Happy 250th birthday, USA!

Independence Day takes on special meaning this year, marking the 250th anniversary of our nation's founding. I was thinking about the fact that I am nearly 50, which is 1/5 of the country's age. And 250 years is a blink of an eye compared to countries and cultures that have been around for thousands of years.

I am grateful and proud to live in the USA, even though it was not my choice to be born here. Some would suggest that we actually decide everything before we incarnate on Earth, but I will leave that topic for another time. Considering all the countries around the world where I could have been born, I'm happy it was the USA this go-around.

Perhaps I am feeling more grateful than normal after helping a friend out yesterday. He has bounced around several living situations over the last few months, and was one rent-a-room away from being homeless. He said it's far worse in his native country of Nigeria. Perhaps this is why he has maintained high spirits and appreciation for all the opportunities we have in this country.

So, today we celebrate the men and women who had the courage to declare independence from Britain and make a bold move into a new frontier. Sure, there are black marks on that history with the treatment of Native Americans, slavery, women's rights, etc., but I choose to focus on the freedoms we have now.