Today is the 4th of July, the celebration of the signing of the Declaration of Independence in America. I know that this my not be perfectly correct, in that, it was July 2nd and it wasn’t truly totally signed on that date by everyone, but that doesn’t really matter to me right now. I won’t quibble over dates and facts. I just want to go to the essence of what it all stands for.

I always think of our forefathers and foremothers today and all those who were daring enough to step up in favor of choice, freedom and independence. They had a lot of conflicts and weren’t always on each other’s sides. They fought about the way things should be written. They fought about whether or not they should be able to keep their slaves. They argued and finally realized that their freedom was more important than anything else. That was just the beginning. Then, the real fighting and bloodshed began.

I’m not a history expert. I know just enough to understand that our country might have begun with controversy and bloodshed, but its true essence is freedom of choice and liberty for all. The preamble reads:

We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

A prophet of old said this Constitution would “hang from a thread.” It seems to have come to fruition. This Constitution was written so we would have something to fall back on in times like this. I remember as a teacher, before I began any class, together we would create a document of agreement of how we would behave in that class. When something went array, we could look back at our agreements: “Is that what’s happening right now?” We could rely on those agreements that we’d made together to guide us through any challenge or problem in behavior. Because we created them together made them even more powerful.

Well, lately, that doesn’t seem to hold true in the arena of government. Our constitution is close to not mattering at all. So, where do we turn when there are no manmade rules to adhere to? Where do we turn when it seems that no one can do anything? Where do we turn? I believe we must turn to where our forefathers and mothers turned: to the People. Who are we but the people? This is not the time to turn against each other. This is the time to unite in kindness, compassion and to open up to new ideas.

Quantum mechanics has three prevalent world views: “embrace uncertainty, the universe is pure potential, the universe appears fundamentally inseparable.” Mel Schwartz The Possibility Principle. I’m working with this within myself right now and contemplating how it relates to our current situation. When I know that everything is uncertain it means that I am open to not knowing how anything is or will turn out. When embrace potentiality, then I realize that everything is in flux, fluid and changing. I am in the consciousness of embracing that potentiality in the greatest and most unifying way for everyone because of the third world view: “the universe appears fundamentally inseparable.” What I think and decide matters because we are all connected. ALL OF US not just those we agree with.

I believe the only place we will find answers and make changes are within each and every one of us. Mother Therese once said, “Grow where you are planted.” Where are you planted and how is your garden? These are the things I am contemplating today on Independence Day. There is one thing no one can take from us and that is the power to choose how we will think and how we will respond to our circumstances. I do not believe we can always control outside conditions, but we can control ourselves. We can begin to shift our awareness to our own lives and how we are the microcosm of the macrocosm. We can stop screaming and complaining and begin to be kind to ourselves and to others. We can create a better world right where we are.

I’m contemplating independence today and it is not a celebration of the Independence of this Country. It is the Independence of my own mind and the awakening of that independence that guides me to do my part to evolve myself and then turn that evolution outward in action.

Aloha and Love,

Rev. Rita Andriello-Feren, Author, Co-Spiritual Director Center for Spiritual Living Kaua`i.