On Black Friday, I set out to run some errands with my family. At the store, we saw a beautiful Christmas tree. It was 40% off, so I bought it. I don’t think I’ve ever had a Christmas tree this early in the season. Given the last minute rush of end of year legislation in Congress, Christmas prep can sometimes be delayed. But no Charlie Brown tree for our family this year!

 

Amid our nation’s tense policy debates, this week offered a quieter focus on a special tradition. The lights of a Christmas tree were kindled on the Capitol Grounds. Even in Washington, where slight disagreements can cause controversy and discord, this annual ritual is a time to pause and celebrate a holiday that is special to many Americans.

 

 

If you look closely in the background of the picture, you will notice that the Dome of the Capitol is wrapped—not like a present—but in scaffolding. Construction of the Capitol Dome began in 1855. It is interesting to note that Abraham Lincoln continued construction throughout the Civil War. Amid the battles that raged on American soil, with brothers spilling the blood of brothers, some of the President’s advisors urged him to halt construction. But President Lincoln pressed forward, recognizing in the dome a symbol of our Republic. He saw the work as a forthcoming image of the reunification of the United States. 

 

Whenever I find a moment to walk outside, particularly in the summer, I see visitors from across the world taking pictures of our iconic building. More than a functioning building of our legislature, the Capitol is deeply representative of who we are as a people. The dome is a powerful reminder of democracy—a word that is often thrown around, but that invites deeper reflection. Democracy is a system of government that is rooted in the philosophical understanding of the inherent dignity and rights of all persons. It presupposes a willingness to preserve and protect this ideal—a responsibility taken up by the people whom the ideal serves. Although our system remains the most vibrant in the world, our democracy faces many stresses. Perhaps that’s why, at 150 years old, the Capitol Dome has 1300 cracks.

 

Americans are longing for something different, something more dependable than the anxieties of our anxious age. They hope for permanency, for good things that last and can be carried forward in time. Perhaps that is where we begin to rebuild, with recovering our best traditions, so that the gifts of stability, opportunity, and liberty are renewed in our time and passed on for future generations. The effort might be messy for a little while, somewhat like the Capitol reconstruction, but the cracks in our society need to be filled. Success will mean another 150 years of reasons to celebrate our country—a work in progress that can now be glimpsed through the lights on our Capitol Christmas tree.