Can any of us who lived during WWII forget Kate Smith singing God Bless America? Did you know that God Bless America was written by Erving Berlin in 1918 during WWI and revised in 1938 three years before we entered WWII? Did you also know that Irving Berlin was Jewish? The God in whom he believed was the Jewish God of the Torah or Old Testament. Christians believe in the same God as revealed in the New Testament – the Judeo Christian God.
“While the storm clouds gather far across the sea, Let us swear allegiance to a land that’s free, Let us all be grateful for a land so fair, As we raise our voices in a solemn prayer. God bless America, land that I love Stand beside her and guide her Through the night with the light from above From the mountains To the prairies, To the ocean white with foam God bless America, My home sweet home.”
I would suggest that as a nation we need to rededicate ourselves to being “One nation under God, indivisible……” I would further suggest that we are not African American, Chinese American, Vietnamese American, German American, et al. We are one and all Americans. I, as your Chaplain, pray for God’s Blessing on this land, the United States of America. I pray that He stand beside us and guide us, through the night with the light from above.
Happy Birthday, America!! May you remain one Nation Under God