A NOTE ON VIGILANCE AND INDEPENDENCE

Two hundred and forty-nine years ago, a radical experiment in self-governance began. Fifty-six delegates from thirteen colonies drafted a document to chart the course of history and define the arc of liberty for centuries to come.

Independence — Freedom — Unalienable Rights — Democracy.

The American experiment has catalyzed some of humanity’s greatest achievements. Yet it has not been without failure—marked by undeniable injustices, profound tragedies, and moments when we failed to live up to our own ideals.

Today, Americans stand on the shoulders of flawed but visionary individuals—men who believed in the possibility of a freer, more equal society. The security and comfort we enjoy are the quiet dividends of those who serve thanklessly, silently, and often without recognition. America was built by immigrants and indigenous stewards. Today, it is safeguarded by sentinels in the shadows.

To my American compatriots: take a moment today to read, study, and reflect—not only on the words of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution, but on the sacrifices that gave them life. With that reflection, we should ask what effort is required of us now to ensure the future we hope to leave behind.

What have we become? What are we becoming? Does our nation still stand as a beacon of hope, opportunity, and security as it once did? If not, how must we ensure those principles remain at our core?

The freedom to choose our path still rests with the American people and those sentinels who guard it. Choose wisely.

— Bishop