John Meacham writes in his 2006 book “American Gospel”:

”A tolerant, pluralistic democracy in which religious and secular forces continually contend against one another may not be ideal, but it has proven to be the most practical and enduring arrangement of human affairs — and we must guard that arrangement well.”

As we celebrate a difficult anniversary of the Declaration of Independence this weekend, fully aware of the flaws in our foundation and the shortcomings of our nation, it’s worth remembering that in spite of them all, there’s still something of value. And perhaps we can, by God’s grace, breathe upon that ember and re-ignite something greater than we now have.