Pause, breathe, HOPE

Editor’s Note: In a nod to our Presbyterian heritage, we regularly feature a column from a PMMA® chaplain in our newsletter. This month’s column comes from Dinah Dutta, chaplain at Lawrence Presbyterian Manor®

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I can’t help but share this beautiful song with you as my thoughts are wrapped around 4th of July as I write my love note to all of you: The patriotic song, “America the Beautiful.”

In spite of all the chaos, hatred, fear, and much more, I want to sing this song with all my heart. Each word reminds me how privileged and blessed I am to live in this great country.

Please join me in singing:

O beautiful for spacious skies,

For amber waves of grain,

For purple mountain majesties

Above the fruited plain!

America! America!

God shed His grace on thee,

And crown thy good with brotherhood

From sea to shining sea!

O beautiful for pilgrim feet

Whose stern impassioned stress

A thoroughfare for freedom beat

Across the wilderness.

America! America!

God mend thine ev'ry flaw,

Confirm thy soul in self-control,

Thy liberty in law.

O beautiful for heroes proved

In liberating strife,

Who more than self their country loved,

And mercy more than life.

America! America!

May God thy gold refine

Till all success be nobleness,

And ev'ry gain divine.

O beautiful for patriot dream

That sees beyond the years

Thine alabaster cities gleam

Undimmed by human tears.

America! America!

God shed his grace on thee,

And crown thy good with brotherhood

From sea to shining sea.

I invite you dear ones to take time to pause, pray, breathe, and continue to live in Hope because hope, love, and JOY are contagious. Let us plant the seeds of HOPE all around us.

Galatians 6:8: For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life (NKJV).

Enjoy the Summer!