PASTOR'S PEN
Flag Day, symbolism

Al Leveridge is vicar at Trinityby the-Sea Episcopal Church in Port Aransas.

To understand the unconditional love of God, I begin by looking at my own ability to express love. I think of my family and how I feel about them. They can disappoint me, challenge and frustrate me, yet I still love them. I would do anything within my power to help them enrich their lives. I feel much the same way about my country, community and church family at Trinity-by-the-Sea. I love them, warts and all.

I am reminded of my love of country, as we approach Flag Day this year. All the talk we hear nowadays about the relationship between church and state have worked to blur the relationship between people, church, community and God. Showing respect and giving honor to a flag is a symbolic expression of our common faith and beliefs. It is proper to have our national flag as part of our worship environment.

The drafters of the constitution were, in my opinion, primarily concerned with protecting us from having government becoming too involved in church life and establishing one set of faith beliefs and practices for us all. They certainly were not concerned with protecting the citizenry from expressions of faith in a loving God. The Stars and Stripes represents a nation under a God that we call by various names, a nation that is more diverse than any in the world.

Those who believe in God can accept the idea that God is sovereign over all of creation. The Episcopal church has a denominational flag that represents a community with a common approach to a faith with a vast array of spiritual souls seeking a relationship with God. Both the national and the denominational flags represent expressions of diversity and neither should be considered divisive.

Jesus revealed God's unconditional love that transcends all evil conduct. We know our own love can take into account the frailness of our families and companions. Why then should we argue over the placement of symbols that stand for all that that we hold dear and love.