Independence Day
By: Scott Maynor
July 4, 2026
First and foremost, Happy Independence Day to you. So we’re here and we’ve all made it. Happy happy happy birthday America! You are now officially 250 years old. Let’s be glad and rejoice together. I remember when I was a young kid and we were celebrating our country’s bicentennial birthday in 1976. It’s so hard to believe that it’s already been 50 years. Wow, how the time flies when you’re having fun and I’ve been having lots evidently. I’m sure that many of you remember that birthday as well. If you don’t because you’re younger, you're lucky but you’ll most likely soon realize how fast time actually flies. Sometimes it feels like it’s at warp speed. I went fishing with my dad the other day and we were reminiscing about the old days that were about 40 years or so ago but they feel like they were just yesterday.
My daughters, Kailyn & Casey, used to love making fun of how old I am, much like the ribbing I would give my mom and dad when I was younger teasing them about their age. However, very recently as my oldest daughter, Kailyn, is rapidly approaching 30 years old and reality has started sinking in and it ain’t so funny to her any longer. I had a general conversation with her recently and I could tell that she felt the same way I did when I was around the same age as I approached my same birthday. It’s so hard to believe how fast time goes so please make sure you keep life in the proper perspective. In case you are wondering, Casey is still a couple of years younger and still makes fun of me every chance she gets. She picks and picks and picks some more just like I pick on her. However, when she picks on me, it drives me absolutely crazy. It’s definitely not as fun when you’re not the picker but rather you’re the pickee. It’s okay Kailyn, 30 is much better than the alternative and fortunately for me, I get to pick the pictures.
Therefore, make sure you have fun and enjoy your life. Hopefully you have your independence. Life is so precious and we are not promised tomorrow. Make sure to help others when you can if you have the ability and means to do so. Some of the greatest things that I have ever done in my life have been volunteering and serving others: tornado cleanup, food pantry, homeless shelter, local missions, family, men’s ministry, donating firewood, Awana, youth ministry, property committee, architectural review committee, trustee, helping neighbors, cutting someone's yard, build handicap ramps, etc. Oftentimes, I have had the ability and the means so I try to make sure I help others whenever I can.
I always try not to be selfish but sometimes my selfish desires have crept in a time or two. I distinctly remember after the April 2011 tornado came through Gloucester and did so much damage to multiple homes that I was wondering how I could get some work to make more money fixing homes with tornado damage. I had the desire, ability and the needs to help but I caught myself approaching the want to serve others with a selfish perspective of self-gain. It didn’t take long for me to realize it, stop and pray to get my mind clear again on why I needed to help or serve others. Fortunately, I was in a position to help with the clean-up as a volunteer along with our church’s youth ministry along with many other volunteers. It’s one of the hardest days I have worked by cleaning up huge piles of debris into chippers. Pictures from the news helicopters don’t ever do the proper justice to the devastation. I learned very quickly that in person, it’s much worse than you can imagine if you’ve never been to an area that’s been devastated after a tornado, hurricane or flood. On the news, the huge trees look like toothpicks and the debris piles look like a broom swept pile in your garage. I was so wrong and I got a different perspective of such damage after that day. I felt so good after I was done and I was absolutely okay that I never made a dime on tornado damage. Sorry but it doesn't mean that I’m going to complete your remodel or build you a new home for free but maybe I can help and we can work together.
The moral of this story is not to be the picker or the pickee but rather to help others if you have the desire, ability and means to do so for the right reasons. It’s for us to leave the world a better place than we found it. Let’s make a pledge together to pay it forward, whatever that means to you, hopefully helping others in the end. To me, many times, it just very plain and simply means helping others without the desire of self-gain. If we do, in my opinion, our future generations will continue to prosper and our country will not only grow older but rather stronger and better for us and consequently, our generations. We can do it together if we make that commitment, we can all get along and help each other. Don’t be jealous of others, if you are, instead be thankful for what you have. Don’t be selfish, if you are, instead help someone that needs help. Is there someone in your life that has transgressed against you? If so, show your independence today and forgive their transgressions against you as they hopefully forgive yours. You can only control yourself so don’t try to control someone else. Don’t be so hardened and miserable for the rest of your life if that’s you. “Don’t worry, be happy” just like Bobby McFerrin's one-hit wonder in 1988 or Bob Marley’s song says, “Don’t worry ‘bout a thing cause every little thing gonna be all right”. According to Bob Marley’s sons, Ziggy and Stephen, Bob’s last words were, “Money can’t buy life”. Sometimes perspective is all that we need. This story may be for you or someone else that you know so share it until it finds the people that it’s looking for. I’m one of them.
Happy, Happy, Happy 250th Birthday America and big Happy Independence Day to you as you continue your journey!
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