I've been thinking about Obama all morning. I keep alternating between grinning and being teared up. I've tried so hard for the last 11 months not to get too worked up about this election and so I didn't realize how much I cared. It really means a lot to me that Barack Obama is going to be our next president. I am not anti-McCain, it's just that the Republicans should have had him as their candidate eight years ago. It's a different country today because they didn't. I'm going to reign in my tongue from saying anything more on that matter.
It's not Obama's policies and positions that have me so excited this morning. It's the possibility of leaving cynicism behind and moving forward, of trying new ways of working as a country, new ways of being a world citizen. I'm not so excited about what a new government can do for our country, but what a new leader can inspire people to do in their own communities.
In my community there is a strongly held belief that we should "never tire of doing good". Barack Obama inspires me to live more fully the faith that I claim to have. Whatever his personal spiritual state is, there is still truth and goodness in what he has to say and in the way he conducts himself. All that is true and good is of God. I don't know that Obama and I are the same kind of Christian, but I don't think it matters much because he's not calling me to follow him as a saviour.
Obama didn't run to save us, he ran to lead and inspire us to become the country we've been claiming to be for 200 years. That's going to take each of us asking God, "What's the next right thing? Where would you have me go? How would you have me serve?" Of course Jesus has been telling us that for 2000 years, but sometimes I get discouraged and worn down. I don't believe for a second that I'm the only one who gets discouraged. Barack Obama encourages me to "seek justice, love mercy and to walk humbly with my God." No, I've never heard him use those words, but he asks all of us to live our best lives, and that is my best life.
I know that there are many people who are not excited this morning; they're nervous, unsure, maybe even depressed. I'm sorry that you're feeling that way. I hope that you become encouraged over time and find a hopeful way forward. If you believe that God is in control (and I'm willing to bet that you do) then all is still well in your world and you have nothing to fear.
Let's find our way together.
8 comments:
When GWB was elected, I made a vow to respect him because - whether I voted for him or not - he was my president. Unfortunately, after awhile many of his decisions made it impossible for me to respect him.
I hope that Obama is the man that I believe him to be. An intelligent, generous, kind man. A good husband and father. A person who deserves respect.
I hope that he is an excellent president. That, like he said in his speech Tuesday, he really does listen to the Republicans and take their views and concerns into account. I hope that he does such a great job that ALL Americans come to respect him.
I hope.
When I stepped in the hall to vote, I thought to myself, we have to begin praying for the next election, right now. Obama has a big job. I hope he is up to it. I don't mean that to be cynical, but that I hope that he is up to it in the same way that I hope I am up to my job, or you are up to yours. Speaking about integrity, and being a person of integrity can be two different things. And, we are molded, and changed, by the people that are part of our universe. Speaking that we are Christians, and living a Christian life, wow--it can look totally different on different people. I bring this up because I think of this so many times when our vocal christian leaders don't model Jesus. I can't fault them, there are sooo many times I don't model Jesus either. And, I bring this up, because I don't know about you, but I don't often have it in the forefront of my prayers to pray for our presidents, senators, representatives, principals, ministers, etc. Rather, I am often embroiled in my own pleas for help and assistance. So, we need to pray, consistently and passionately, for the leaders of this country, and that we all reflect our leader (Jesus), because, wow, what a difference that would be!
I agree that good leadership inspires people to do what’s right and good, it doesn’t just tell people what to do or try to do it for them. It’s the inspiration that is the key. It’s true of good spiritual leaders as much as it is true of political leaders. I feel like we have not had this level of inspiration from a politician in my life time. It makes me excited and hopeful, not that Obama will save America or the world, but that he will lead us to do that. Power to the people, man! :-) now if I could just get my husband to understand half of that...
Barack Obama is the perfect example of the American Dream and along with his dream to become President he carried the hopes and dreams of a people that felt disenfranchised by our government. It was those very same hopes and dreams that united these people and not the color if their skin. I was brought to tears as I saw the many different faces of people who came out to Grant Park in Chicago. There was a feeling of true unity, a unity never felt before. Whites, Blacks, Latinos, Asians all raising their hands together in celebration. Barack Obama has unified our country like no leader has ever done before.
I personaly think that any one who voted for Obama is a Plain Fool he is tied deeply to the islamic world and the fools that voted for him will pay with their freedom the only people who voted him him was the dumb white people and the dumb black people and the ones who are inspired by the hollywood left how can you call your self a christian and vote for someone who is plainly living an anti Christ like life
Well nealtruth, thanks for making me look good.
Tonia have you read any of my blogs?
I wonder if that guy was absent the day punctuation was taught? Ms. Tonia, you do not need an ignorant person with a superiority issue to make you look good. Just be you...that is all it takes.
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