Blessed 4th of July

This morning, as I stood in our front yard talking with my next-door neighbors, our conversation naturally drifted to the state of the world. We reflected on the divisions we see here in the United States and the widespread feelings of uncertainty and anxiety. These experiences, lived daily and amplified by the news, have many of us questioning where we stand as a nation on the occasion of our 250th anniversary of independence.

Please don’t read this as political or partisan; it isn’t about politics or parties—these feelings are part of being human, shared by people across the spectrum of society and beliefs. Still, I want to share what I’ve witnessed and what keeps me hopeful, even on the hardest days.

In my three years as Executive Director of the North Country Mission of Hope, I’ve met people from every walk of life—people facing loss, hardship, and uncertainty. They come looking for assistance: a wheelchair, some medical supplies, or just someone to listen. And so often, they leave with something deeper—the knowledge that someone truly sees them, and that they matter. That simple connection is what gives me hope for tomorrow.

If I’m honest, I know this has little to do with me. It’s a reflection of the hundreds—thousands—of donors here in the North Country and across the United States. People who give quietly, without asking for recognition or reward, trusting only that what they donate will reach someone who needs it most.

True charity, true service, and true selflessness do not see the differences that threaten to divide us. Instead, they recognize what unites us: our shared humanity.

This is the North Country—and the America—I know: people stepping up for one another, no matter the need and no matter the circumstance. That spirit of quiet, persistent love of neighbor is what I choose to celebrate as we mark our 250th year.

May we always remain a nation ready to answer the call to serve, to respond to the needs of our neighbors, and to bring hope to those who are struggling. 

May God continue to bless the United States of America.