While we celebrate this weekend, we should also pause in gratitude for the extraordinary prosperity we’ve all inherited from the greatest experiment in human history that began 250 years ago this week.
Studying the Revolutionary Era for Perspective
As America has approached the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, I’ve been spending a lot of time reading about and watching programming about the revolutionary era. Studying history is educational and applicable, but for me, it is most powerful for gaining perspective.
The Declaration of Independence: Liberty, Self-Government, and God-Given Rights
On July 4, 1776, the Founding Fathers declared a vision rooted in liberty, self-government, and the conviction that human rights are not gifts from rulers, but inherent truths from God. They also defied the authority that ruled over them and stood in the way of pursuing that vision. That meant, putting their lives on the line for their beliefs. Beliefs in limited government, individual liberty, civic responsibility, and the consent of the governed, without any clear vision of how to best implement them. That came later.
The American Revolutionary War: A Fight Against the Odds
First, they had to fight and die for those beliefs. It was a war that should not have been won. Reading just some of the details of the American Revolutionary War will tell you that. You can believe it was luck. I believe it was divine providence.
250 Years of Prosperity: Leadership, Innovation, and Freedom
Once this new country was created, the Founding Fathers’ ideas took shape. Some took longer than others to implement. Some still need further implementation today. But the process, the decisions of our leaders, the ingenuity and innovation of our citizens, the defense provided by our military, and the freedoms protected throughout generations have provided a prosperity accessible to more people than any place, any time in human history.
Warren Buffett on Quality of Life in America
I recently watched billionaire Warren Buffett speak about this time in America. He contends that even our poor in America have a better quality of life than the richest man in America did when he was kid. The access to health care, technology, and entertainment have all improved exponentially in just the past century, and certainly over the past 250 years.
Beyond Money: True Financial Independence and American Freedom
We talk about your money here because that’s the key to true financial independence. But American independence isn’t just measured by money. At its best, it reflects the freedom to build, worship, speak, learn, invent, serve, and pursue a better life.
Gratitude for the Next 250 Years
As we mark 250 years of independence, we can give thanks for the prosperity America has achieved and has been passed down to us. What we do with it, will – with God’s blessing – steer us for the next 250 years.
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