Douglas J. Fisher, Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Western Massachusetts, offered a poignant reflection on the 4th of July in a recent piece he wrote for telegram.com.
Bishop Fisher writes,
"William Sloan Coffin, the chaplain at Yale University for many years, once said: 'There are three kinds of patriots. Two bad and one good. The bad ones are the uncritical lovers and the loveless critics. The good patriots carry on a lover’s quarrel with their country, a reflection of God’s lover’s quarrel with the world.'
We love our country. We are blessed and a blessing, and, in many ways, a beacon to the world. May we be good patriots and carry on a lover’s quarrel with America until we mend what has been torn apart. This is a day for pride and celebration. It is also a day to pray that we might live up to the great ideals on which we were founded."
You can read Bishop Fisher's reflection in its entirety here.
Bishop Fisher writes,
"William Sloan Coffin, the chaplain at Yale University for many years, once said: 'There are three kinds of patriots. Two bad and one good. The bad ones are the uncritical lovers and the loveless critics. The good patriots carry on a lover’s quarrel with their country, a reflection of God’s lover’s quarrel with the world.'
We love our country. We are blessed and a blessing, and, in many ways, a beacon to the world. May we be good patriots and carry on a lover’s quarrel with America until we mend what has been torn apart. This is a day for pride and celebration. It is also a day to pray that we might live up to the great ideals on which we were founded."
You can read Bishop Fisher's reflection in its entirety here.