6 July 2009
My Experience at a Tea Party
Posted by Joy Bischoff under: Constitution in Peril .
My son Bryon and I had a different kind of Fourth of July. It began with the funeral of a dear man who decided to turn his life over to the Lord a mere month ago. When he died of heart failure, I can only imagine his joy and relief for the decision that would change his eternity.
While waiting for the funeral to begin, my son told me that while eating breakfast at our Fourth of July community breakfast, he saw a sign announcing a local tea party at noon. I had assumed I would not be able to attend a tea party since I needed to help sing at the funeral. Even though I knew our small valley would not be able to host a large gathering, I was excited. It isn’t the numbers that are important, it is the feeling that we refuse to be lulled to sleep. Every voice that is raised encourages others not to capitulate to hopelessness and inaction.
When we arrived at the library we saw only about a dozen people but their enthusiasm was apparent and we were thrilled to be there. These were people that I had seen around but did not know. Yet there was an instant feeling of unity and rapport. I was so proud of them for organizing this event and standing strong no matter how few the numbers. We knew we were part of a nationwide voice.
Bryon began a bit timidly, standing under a tree with his sign, watching the cars go by. After awhile, I challenged him to switch to the sign that said, “Honk of you love America”. He hesitated a moment, then switched signs and stepped out onto the sidewalk in the blazing Southern Nevada sun. He will be leaving for a mission for our church in a month, so I reminded him that it took courage to be a missionary and that this would be good practice. That clicked with him and it wasn’t long until he was waving his sign and stepping off the curb to point to coming cars in a good-natured challenge to sound their support of our country. People began honking more and more, many with enthusiasm. Bryon’s pointing finger would then give the vehicle a fist pump and a huge grin.
We felt that every person who moved a finger to honk, was shaken a little bit awake and felt that they had done something to make a statement in support of traditional America. Through a myriad of small acts….from a tiny rudder, large ships change course. It stems from the attitudes of average citizens.
My flagging political spirits rose as I got out from behind my laptop and joined real people and saw their enthusiasm and listened to their political savvy. They were not asleep, their head was not bowed. Fully aware that we may loose some battles, these people knew that in order to live with themselves, they had to raise their voices and know that they had publicly taken a stand to protest the path of the current administration.
One amazing older woman spent little time beneath the shade trees and marched up and down the sidewalk waving her signs with energy and passion. I wish I had a notebook with me. Occasionally she would stop and talk to me and although I tried to remember her words of wisdom to share with you, I failed. As Bryon and I returned to our car to leave, he stopped and turned to watch that spry older woman marching and said, “she is amazing and adorable”.
As we drove away, we both agreed that this had been the perfect way to celebrate the Fourth of July.
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