United Baptist Church of Ellsworth

On July 4th, 2026, the United States celebrated 250 years of independence from foreign tyranny. Since then, our nation has grown from 13 to 50 stars in our flag and has become a land of immense opportunity and a strong economic and military world power. We celebrate with full hearts as we stand on the shoulders of so many who have sacrifced to give us the precious privileges of liberty in a dangerous and oppressive world which still threatens the vision of what we want to be. It is a reminder that we have a sacred responsibility to honor those sacrifices and to guard freedom for future generations.

Like this gull who seems distracted from his beach foraging, most of us can relate to losing focus. We are often side tracked by extraneous thoughts, interruptions, or tasks which divert us from accomplishing our initial plans.

Spring is finally here! Nature’s consistency is wonderful! Every year we wobble our way around the sun. Seasons successively morph into each other but not by precise calendar dates. Dawn comes, and night falls but at different hours. Years come and go, but leap years happen, and the number of days in a year varies. The mountains remain on the horizon, but erosion gradually takes its toll. Tides flow to and fro on a shifting schedule. And lupine return every spring in assorted arrangements. So, within this constancy there are variations even if ever so slight and unnoticed. Scientists are discovering that predictable physical laws vary slightly in the way they function even though cosmic order persists. (That topic is way beyond my paygrade and is for those who understand quantum physics!)

There is something inspiring about sea vegetation and trees which grow and flourish in severe, hostile terrain. Tree roots intertwine and go deep between barnacled rocks where sea weed tenaciously anchor. So, when gales blow, these plants stand strong and the algae hold fast; they don’t tumble down or wash away in stormy seas.

These ducklings speak a visual parable of divine providence. They highlight a truth which King David vividly and beautifully captured in the lyrics of the 139th Psalm. God’s children are constantly “hemmed in behind and before” by God’s omniscience, presence, care, and protection.