Well, it’s the Fourth of July, and Americans will mark this occasion in so many ways. I’ll be working at the church yard sale — again — and celebrating a friend’s birthday with some barbecue. Family members are hither, thither and yon, many of us were around for Lewisburg’s celebration last week. But my brother- and sister-in-law are at a bluegrass festival, my sister will be at a cookout, my cousins hanging with their grandkids.

As I looked at my Alaska trip taken last month, but written about here, I thought, hmm… how do I think about this nation through the lens of this trip. Duh. My sister and I were exploring the country. Oh, it was a lovely and sybaritic exploration to be sure, I took no conestoga wagon across the country, hiked no trails. But I spent a lot of time marveling at the people who did. I also spent a lot of time marveling at the grandeur of this country and the press of people who wanted to see it.

We were daily faced with the pristine majesty of this State. There are plenty of things that are happening that threaten that pristine nature, but there are acres and acres of land left untouched. When we stay in place, it’s easy to become jaundiced about what our country is like, but travel changes that. I traveled with lovely people, all of us agog at the beauty. That made me hopeful and proud, and gives me fuel to come back home and get back to work on that most American activity… making a difference!

But everyone needs to pause once in a while. Let’s do it today. Let’s look at how beautiful our part of the world is and how privileged we are… let’s celebrate that… and then let’s get back to work bringing Peace to our little corners of the world… because we can and because we should. Happy 4th.

As Beloved Niece graduated, there were two ceremonies. The first, smaller, more intimate (uh, 1,600 graduates, is that intimate?) event I spent mostly focused on her. Although as it always does for me, ritual made itself known.

But the second event was huge and about the notion of commencement and the celebration of honors for those who either commenced earlier and arrived someplace important, or for those who were engaged in helping to shape both these young minds and the process of education and study. It was large and sweeping and moved from the intimate to the grand and bold.

It was a lovely public ritual, secular, inclusive, effective. The graduates felt both tied to their groups and launched into the world. As I quoted only last week, thinking about our church’s bridging ceremony, “letting them grow, but not letting them go.”

Such a ritual helps make order in the lives of those undergoing, provides a benchmark for those who have been observing, supporting, celebrating the graduates, and gives those not yet there something to which to aspire. (and I should have checked, but I’m sure the stock in Kleenex went up around the world on graduation weekend.) Secular ritual can also unite people across traditions and culture… creating a large oasis of Peace, as accomplishments or yearnings are celebrated. On that day, regardless of where you came from, what mattered was that you had completed the requirements of the degree and were being admitted to the ranks of graduates (with all the attendant privileges and responsibilities hereto attached!).

And for me, such a strong reminder of why I do what I do. Ritual, it does a body and a community good. What a privilege to be part of people’s lives in this way. Celebrate! And by the way, Hannah, your auntie is so proud. Way to go, my dearest!

There you go, graduates, off into a world we can’t imagine… but you will. I’m sure you have no idea both how much power you have and how little. Some things just are, and other things are waiting, begging to be changed.

The news, (and it’s always bad), says that we’ve taught you to be entitled, and yet, I have such a strong sense of your willingness to change things. You garden, you recycle, you form social benefit corps. You marry, or will, you parent, or will. You travel and meet new people. You make a difference. I’m proud of you. And I’ll keep cheering you on.

Pay no attention to those people who tell you you can’t have or can’t be. Go do what you were born to do. Off you go now. Have some good fun!

oh, p.s. that Peace thing? Peace really does begin with a girl or a boy, or a young adult, or an elder. It’s every bit as complicated as generations try to tell you and yet, not complicated at all. Try… for everyone’s sake… but mostly your own!