Our Finest Hour

Twice during David’s ministry we exchanged pulpits with a British minister. Our family lived in his house, drove his car, preached at his churches. He and his family did the same in ours.

The congregations of the British Methodist churches (called chapels over there) were extremely gracious to us. Members invited us into their homes and shared their meals with us. We marveled at their tiny refrigerators—their daily grocery shopping (on foot and carrying string bags)–and the adventures of driving on the “wrong” side of the road. After a few weeks we got the hang of their language: “boot” for the trunk of the car; “gardens” for their front yards; “closets” for their bathrooms.

I remember one particular incident as we were leaving England after one such exchange. A Mr. and Mrs. Spray had us for “high tea” (what we call supper). About to depart we were standing in a small entrance hall to say our “good-byes”. High shelves were along all sides. Mr. Spray reached up and took something from the shelf. It was a commemorative mug, a souvenir from the coronation of Queen Victoria. And he said, “I want you to have this so you will remember England by her finest hour.”

That was the period when the British Empire encompassed the entire world and the Super Power. It got me thinking—When was America’s finest hour? Would it be when we adopted the Declaration of independence? That was certainly a fine hour. Would it be the ending of the Civil War and the emancipation of slaves? This was a momentous moment. What about at the end of the Second World War when we were called “the greatest generation”? Would it be during the upheaval of the ’70s the Age of Aquarius when so many things changed in our society? What do you think? What would you name as America’s finest hour?