There are certain objects that immediately communicate that summer has truly arrived in Canada.
The barbecue is one.
The canoe resting beside a lake is another.
And somewhere near the top of the list sits the humble lawn chair.
Particularly if it is one of those red-and-white striped models that appears to have attended Canada Days continuously since Confederation.
Now, I should confess that I have a deep affection for lawn chairs.
Not because they are especially elegant.
No one has ever described a lawn chair as a masterpiece of engineering.
Most of them seem to have been designed with equal concern for comfort and the possibility of sudden collapse.
Grace abounds.
But there is something wonderfully Canadian about them.
They appear at family reunions.
Community picnics.
Church barbecues.
Fireworks displays.
They emerge from garages and sheds every summer like migratory birds returning from warmer climates.
And once unfolded, they invite us to do something that modern life often discourages:
Sit still.
Notice.
Give thanks.
Now, as Canada Day arrives once again, I find myself thinking about gratitude.
Not the shallow sort that pretends everything is perfect.
Canada, like every nation, has its struggles.
Its unfinished work.
Its failures and its hopes.
The road of reconciliation remains before us.
Justice remains a calling rather than an accomplishment.
And yet gratitude remains entirely appropriate.
Because gratitude is not the denial of imperfection.
It is the recognition of gift.
And we have been given many gifts indeed.
Now, I have been blessed to travel through much of this country over the years.
I have stood beside the Atlantic Ocean and watched the sun rise.
I have gazed across Prairie fields that seemed to stretch all the way to eternity.
I have paddled northern lakes where the water reflected the sky so perfectly that one could scarcely tell where one ended and the other began.
And before I am througI intend to watch mountains rise from the earth with a grandeur that leaves even clergy temporarily speechless.
Which, I assure you, is no small miracle.
And every time I encounter these places, I find myself returning to the same conclusion:
What an astonishing country God has entrusted to our care.
Now, the beauty of Canada is not found only in its landscapes.
It is found in people.
In neighbours who appear with snow shovels after storms.
In volunteers who quietly give their time.
In communities that gather around those who are grieving.
In friendships formed across differences.
In kindnesses offered without expectation of reward.
And perhaps this is one of the greatest blessings of all.
Because nations are not ultimately defined by geography.
They are defined by people learning how to live together.
Now, I realize that Canada Day occasionally inspires debates about national identity.
What does it mean to be Canadian?
What values matter most?
These are worthwhile questions.
But perhaps one answer lies in the ordinary virtues that have shaped so much of our common life:
Kindness.
Generosity.
Humility.
The willingness to help.
The ability to laugh at ourselves.
Particularly when mosquitoes are winning.
Again.
Now, from a Christian perspective, gratitude for country must always lead us back to gratitude for God.
Because every good gift ultimately comes from Him.
Life.
Health.
Freedom.
Friendship.
The beauty of creation.
The opportunity to live, work, worship, and serve in this place and time.
These are not things we have earned.
They are gifts.
And gifts are best received with thanksgiving.
So perhaps this Canada Day, whether you find yourself beside a lake, at a barbecue, watching fireworks, or simply sitting quietly in a well-worn lawn chair…
Pause for a moment.
Take in the beauty around you.
Offer a prayer of gratitude.
And remember that the God who made this vast and beautiful land continues to bless us beyond measure.
Not because we are perfect.
But because God is generous.
And for that, on this Canada Day, we give thanks.
Alleluia.
Companion Prayer
Gracious God,
We thank you for this land we call home.
For its lakes and forests,
its mountains and Prairies,
its cities and small towns.
We thank you for the gift of life,
for health, freedom, friendship, and community.
Help us to be faithful stewards of all that you have entrusted to us.
Guide us in the work of justice, reconciliation, and peace.
And on this Canada Day, fill our hearts with gratitude for your many blessings.
Through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.