Fifty Years of Memory and Meaning
I recently celebrated America’s 250th anniversary in Larkspur, California. Fifty years ago, I was sitting beside the Tidal Basin in Washington, D.C., proud to be an American. It was a joyful celebration as fireworks lit up the sky, and the nearby cherry blossoms added to the beauty of the occasion. At that time, I believed deeply in hope, love, and peace. I was young and imagined those ideals would become part of the world we were building.
A decade later, on August 17, 1987, the Harmonic Convergence inspired another turning point in my life. During that period, I gave new meaning to the number 11:11, defining it as Love, Light, Life, and Living. To me, it represented the flow of energy through the intentional, mental, emotional, and physical dimensions of our lives.
A Parade That Connects Generations
Today, as I watched another Fourth of July parade in California, memories came flooding back. The parade featured restored military vehicles maintained by veterans of World War II. Years ago, my children marched in this same parade, and I once operated a booth where my business gave away cookies to the community. It reminded me how traditions connect generations.
At the pancake breakfast before the parade, I met a gentleman who was older than I am. Wearing a golden cowboy hat, he joked that the breakfast had become “too efficient.” The lines were shorter, the food moved faster, and everything was organized by the Boy Scouts using modern technology. He missed the days when the breakfast was run by the older veterans who had served during the war.
The Sacrifices Behind the Celebration
I asked him about the price of breakfast. He smiled and said it didn’t matter because people were there for the occasion, not the pancakes. Still, when I received three small pancakes, I couldn’t help but think they were rather expensive. We talked for a few minutes without ever really looking at one another, much like strangers passing in an old movie. As we spoke, I found myself thinking about the veterans who once organized the breakfast and the sacrifices they had made.
Many of those men fought in wars, and many never returned home. Their generation hoped they were creating a more peaceful world for those who followed. Yet today, we continue to witness conflict, political division, and international tensions. It made me wonder how we arrived at this point.
Community Within a Divided Society
The breakfast itself reflected community, kindness, and cooperation. Volunteers worked together, families gathered, and neighbors celebrated one another. Yet beyond that small gathering, society often feels deeply divided. Political disagreements dominate public conversation, and many people seem more interested in conflict than in understanding one another.
As I reflected on the past fifty years, I wondered what had changed.
Beliefs, Energy, and Misplaced Priorities
One thought that came to mind was our attachment to beliefs and ideologies. Too often we allow stories, politics, and institutions to divide us instead of bringing us together. Then I thought about energy and our relationship with nature. While many individuals and organizations work to protect the Earth, we continue to pollute our air, land, and water. We fill our food with chemicals and excessive sugar, often placing profit ahead of health.
In many ways, money has become one of society’s highest priorities. Economic success is often celebrated more than compassion, cooperation, or community. Yet on the Fourth of July, people still gather to celebrate the values on which this country was founded, freedom, opportunity, and unity.
Reality Is the Energy We Choose
As I looked around at the families, veterans, children, and volunteers, I was reminded that those values still exist. The challenge is not finding them but choosing to live them.
Perhaps reality is not simply what we see in the headlines or on television. Perhaps reality is created by the energy we bring into the world each day, through our thoughts, our actions, and our willingness to choose love, peace, and understanding over fear and division.
