Seek and Ye Shall Find: A Case for the 4th of July Scavenger Hunt

I don't have a favorite color or song, movie, athlete, saint or Springsteen album (no wait, I do. I'm a River girl, but Darkness on the Edge of Town is my #1). Instead, I create prized groupings e.g. my three favorite foods, five greats in sports, two best duos in all of music. I do however have a favorite holiday: the 4th of July. I love summer, birthday parties and the idea of America. USA! 

Like anything we love, we make time to honor and celebrate the occasion accordingly and appropriately. For me, that means kick starting the day with a parade. And the purpose of this post is to help you enjoy the best way to start this red, white and blue feast day in a new way— with a fun activity for you, your family and friends: the Sports and Spirituality Scavenger Hunt.

I first attended the Kiwanis Danville 4th of July parade when I was in high school and have only missed a few ever since. As noted on their website, "The parade attracts 30,000-40,000 spectators each year and is a wonderful opportunity for the community to come together and celebrate America's birth." I love the ritual of putting chairs out the night before on Hartz Avenue, planning what to wear, looking forward to who and what I will see, hear, taste, and smell. The 4th of July parade costs nothing and is a wonderful way to come together. Thank you, Danville. Thank you, Kiwanis!

No parade is ever the same. While I see many of the same families and friends from year to year, there are always surprises. For example, Clorox is a company whose headquarters are in Oakland, a city not far from Danville. Almost 10 years ago, they had a float promoting one of their products, Kingsford charcoal. This featured a life sized grill and inside was a woman singing "This grill is on fire," a play on Alicia Keys' hit song. Sing it, Clorox! Nice job on the advertising!

Furthermore, a friend and I began to notice how many Americans wear basketball jerseys to the parade. I asked him "What possessed that guy to get up this morning and say I'm going James Worthy today. I mean, part of me gets it—Worthy is a legend but this is not Laker country. There's no patriotic connection to that look." We started to look at what else others were wearing—high school football jerseys, not enough Notre Dame, Uncle Sam hats and even a Bush/Quayle '88 shirt. From year to year, we noticed that certain patterns and/or people emerged—there's always someone on stilts, another is dressed as Rosie the Riveter and Olympics gear never goes out of style (sometimes, the uglier it gets, the better it is!) 

With my nieces in tow, I decided these observations needed to be systematized. And, as a teacher I knew the way to do that: the Scavenger Hunt. 

I found that the parade has a fair bit of downtime. Sometimes floats, cars and horses stall. I figured why not take advantage of our time together to seek and find. I created a list of likely 4th of July items to check off, but there's a twist. This scavenger hunt is sports and spirituality style. Why not give this a go with the way both connect to this national holiday.

In creating a scavenger hunt, a sports and spirituality checklist, I found that my nieces and I paid better attention to what is on display and around us. It's fun to check off an item . Each one pertains to either the holiday, to sports or to spirituality. A pretty good trinity if you ask me. 

ORDER HERE: Excited to share: 4th of July Scavenger Hunt: Sports and Spirituality Style!  #independenceday #blue #scavengerhunt #4thofjuly #parade #sports #spirituality #faith

 https://tinyurl.com/5f85jmh8

Matthew's Gospel reminds us, "seek and ye shall find." I need to be reminded of these words as I am easily distracted. I take my eye off the ball. I lose sight of the (bigger) picture. "Seeking" is a spiritual discipline worth practicing. Here's one way to start...Happy 247th birthday, America!

Order here for PDF file or here for Hard Copy options

Photo Credits
Kids
Kiwanis
Girls

Baseball, Bicycles & America the Beautiful

How do you celebrate the 4th of July? I was talking to two friends this morning about how and why it's a holiday we can all rally around. Perhaps it has something to do with timing. Set in the heart of summer, the 4th beckons us to get out of our homes and play outside. Maybe it doesn't carry the same emotional baggage or expectations that other holidays do. Who knows. It's my favorite holiday and I love that all Americans—new and old can enjoy this day with family and friends, far and wide.

And with this blog I would like to offer three easy ways to enjoy Independence Day!

1. Go to a baseball game.

America's past-time is something the whole family can enjoy. For my brother and his daughters as well as two former co-workers—all huge San Francisco Giants fans— they were given the gift of seeing the defending World Series Champion take the field in our nation's capital. Not only did they hear the national anthem, they were able to see former Presidents run the bases at Nationals Park. I think it's important to recognize our Founding Fathers on this day. That's one way to do it.

I'm not a Yankee fan, but I can recognize they have a remarkable 4th of July history. For those of you with ESPN app, perhaps you have noticed the number of "no-hit alerts" that have rung up this season (the most interesting of which was Max Scherzer's near perfect game). The "no-no" remains an impressive feat, and if there's one way to do it, Dave Righetti did it best.

On July 4, 1983 Rags shut out the Red Sox at Yankee Stadium. The House that Babe built was adorned with bunting and over 40,000 fans in for an incredible feat. The Wikipedia entry says it all

It was the first Yankee no-hitter since Don Larsen's perfect game in the 1956 World Series, and the first by a Yankee left-hander since 1917. It was also the first time ever a no-hitter occurred during a Yankees-Red Sox rivalry game. Righetti recorded swinging strikeout against Wade Boggs to end the game. 

All I can say to that is "Yeah America."

But it's also worth pointing out what occurred in the Bronx 44 years prior. Captured in the movie "Pride of the Yankees" Lou Gehrig shared even with t"he bad break" he got, that he considers himself the "luckiest man on the faith of the earth." ESPN's An Awful Lot to Live For says

The place was home plate at Yankee Stadium. The day was July 4, 1939. The weather was steamy.And the circumstances were heart-breaking. 

The New York Yankees were honoring Lou Gehrig between games of a doubleheader with the Washington Senators just two short months after the greatest first baseman in the history of baseball found out that it was amyotrophic lateral sclerosis that had robbed him of his physical abilities. The Stadium was packed with 61,000 fans as members of the '27 Yankees and his current teammates fanned out in the infield.

It must have been incredibly emotional and yet inspiring. "Wow America."

The original Iron Horse. Gehrig played 2130 straight games.

2. Go to a 4th of July Parade

If you are like me, you love a good Independence Day parade. I am usually attending my favorite in Danville, CA but this year I will be at the oldest parade west of the Mississippi in Huntington Beach, CA. And I've never seen anything like it. Homes along the parade route were decorated with red, white and blue banners, lights, signs and anything else they could think of like it's Christmas in July. People of all ages are free to enjoy, and that's noteworthy: it costs nothing. Tax that America.

The morning festivities began with the Surf City 5k and concluded with a pancake breakfast. My only regret is that we didn't have a bicycle in the middle of all of this. 

There's something about the beach and a bicycleon the 4th. People decorate those too...or they should. We saw many. "Good job America."

3. "American the Beautiful"
Memorial Day, Thanksgiving Day and Independence Day are worthy days to attend daily mass. I can imagine the same closing song for all three would invite the congregation to sing "America, the Beautiful." 

I think the 4th is a fitting day to give thanks for our freedom and the men and women who have given their lives to protect and defend it. Mass is a communal, powerful and prayerful place to do that.

A friend shared an e-mail chain informing us of what happened to the men who signed the Constitution. Learning the price they paid so that this nation could come to be is worth thanksgiving and a deepened sense of appreciation. "God Bless America."

The only thing left to say is "Thanks America." Amen.

Photo Credits
Rags
Getty Image of Gehrig

4th of July: Sports & Spirituality Style

I've always wanted to make an
Uncle Sam cake for this holiday

Independence Day—the 4th of July—is my favorite holiday. Upon learning this, a good friend of mine Father Lou once said "it's the only thing not religious about you." I still smile when I think of his kind and thoughtful response. But the two need not be separate, right? So here's my take on America's birthday, sport and spirituality style. 

Listed below are recommendations for what every American ought to consider on this national holiday one year or the next.

Run a 5 or 10K
Americans love a good Turkey Trot, but why not kick start this day with a stars and stripes run? It's something men, women and children of all-ages can complete. It allows a little more license for the impending eats at your afternoon barbecue and as I've written many times, for me, running invokes prayer.

I still treasure the memories of the "Go Fourth" 10K I ran from Alexandria, VA to Mt. Vernon on this day 14 years ago. Running beside places of such historical significance framed the importance of this day. Maybe your road race will take you through a city or state park? Perhaps it is on a trail completed by the WPA. Maybe it's beside the Atlantic or Pacific Ocean. America is expansive and diverse. Let your feet discover its awesome terrain. Don't forget to wear red, white and blue!

Attend Daily Mass on July 4
In the same spirit as Thanksgiving, the patriotism that flavors this holiday carries over into the Mass. The staff at your local parish would like to enjoy their own festivities as well, so there is usually but one common Mass on this day. And it's a special one because the petitions carry prayers of gratitude for our freedom, protection for those who serve our country and guidance for our leaders. The songs are ones that every American can and should sing: America the Beautiful, My Country This of Thee, etc. No Springsteen in that queue—but there could be...

I sit with my good friend Jackie every year.
Her family has been going to the Danville Parade for 30 years now

Attend your local 4th of July Parade
I have been out of the country on service Immersion trips twice and I regretted it—both times. I felt as though the heading of a new chapter for my book of summer was missing. For me, the best way to start the day (after my run) is showing up at the Danville Parade.

Your local parade gives you a real feel for the community, what it values and supports. Today I saw veterans from World War II on through a few from Iraq. We stood for "Blue Star Moms," a group of mothers who have sons and daughters active in the military. I always look forward to seeing the Little League All Star baseball players and what water pranks they intend to pull. 

But I'd like to make one small recommendation as you watch one float after another. Make a point to find the best "old school" NBA jersey in the crowd. You would be amazed what you will see. This year, we spotted a young man in a black striped Chicago Bulls jersey. #91. When he walked past, we were delighted to see instead of "Rodman" it said "The Worm." I told him it was a mistake not to wear one of the Detroit Pistons, from the Bay Boys Era. Give it a go. You'll like what you see... 

Pray to or read about the life of one American Saint

I would be remiss if I did not
mention the first Native American
Saint: Kateri Tekakwitha

Take your pick! There are so many holy and inspiring men and women whose selfless gifts indelibly shaped the Catholic Church in America. In addition to their feast day, take this day as one to thank them for the children they taught, the poor they served, the hospitals and schools they founded.

Canonized in 1946, St. Francis Xavier Cabrini, foundress of the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart is the first American saint.* "Mother Cabrini," as she is known was born in Italy but immigrated to the US and served men and women like her. St. Elizabeth Ann Seton is the first American saint who was born state side. She is known as the founder of the Sisters of Charity (and numerable associates) and the mother of our Catholic schools. St. John Neumann, a native of Bohemia immigrated to the US and later became Archbishop of Philadelphia. He once said "build a school and you'll have a church." I think "Field of Dreams" took his advice.

The rich tradition of saints is a treasure in the Catholic spiritual life. One component I love best is that we have Saints and we have saints. Dorothy Day and Thomas Merton are two exemplary American Catholics.  I'm sure you know of others...

If there ever way a time or place for a "no-no"

Listen to a baseball game on the radio
I write this because attending a baseball game on this day is a given. I will forever wish that I was in attendance at now Giants pitching coach Dave Rightetti's no-hitter as a New York Yankee on July 4, 1983. What could be more American than that? 

But, listening to a baseball game on the radio feels timeless, doesn't it? We refer to baseball as our national past time, but we know that time has passed. Hearing the narrative of the game through that magic box however, convinces me otherwise. It paints vibrant images, it transfers magnificent stories and recalls old memories. I like that past time on the long, hot summer days.

So as you drive to see the fireworks or head home from your pool party, turn on the AM radio and hopefully you'll catch a good game.

Play and compete in at least one sport or game...any sport or game
Horseshoes, ping pong (singles or doubles), volleyball, water balloon toss, belly flop contest, basketball in the pool. Something...anything. Nothing is more American that good old fashioned competition.

Three summers ago I traveled to Denver to spend this holiday with the Davis family. Their community pool and their large family had said games and more. I was so excited to be Sean's partner in the Mother-Son swim relay. I laughed when Pete's Dad and brother jumped in the pool with all the women for the beer toss. And I marveled at how some kids (and adults) sacrificed their bodies and their pride in the belly flop contest. 

My buddy Sean signing us up for volleyball. Forget that it mentions kids... ;-)

I could add to this list, but I'm going to sign off because I want to conclude this day by my final piece of advice. Watch a great American film. Tonight, I'm debating between "The Natural" and "Bull Durham." I'm leaning toward "The Natural." Why? It's soundtrack is so spiritual.

Happy Birthday America! And thank you for 238 years of Freedom.

Photo Credits
Rags
Uncle Sam Cake
St Kateri