"Love and faithfulness keep a king safe; through love his throne is made secure." Proverbs 20:28
As I type in my office, the television behind me is broadcasting all the sights and sounds from our nation's capital. It is a day that is always one of the most covered events in our nation every 4, or 8, years because it is a day that sets a new administration in place, led by a new President of the United States. Today, Senator Obama becomes President Obama.
The history of this event is not lost on most in this nation. The first African-American President ever elected in the history of the United States is taking office, and for many, fulfilling a dream that was born in hearts of ages past and articulated by the likes of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Whether or not the election of President Obama signals the will of a nation that judges someone by the content of their character rather than the color of their skin might still be up for debate. What cannot be debated, however, is the dream of many inching closer to reality - even if it is not fully realized as yet. The hope for racial reconciliation in the United States simply could never fully happen until there exists a time that the President of the United States is of color. That time has come.
Now, African-American boys and girls can look at reality and actuality instead of continually being told of "possibility." Now, African-Americans in this country can genuinely believe that a "change is gonna come" because a dream has become a reality. Whatever one's thought on the nature of our new President's policies, it is hard for anyone to deny the inspiration this day brings - if not simply for the narrative itself. I find myself inspired as well, though I am at odds with some of the new President's policies (not the least of which is his stance on abortion and embryonic stem-cell research..........although I must admit that some of the other "life" issues [war, poverty, care for the elderly, etc.] he does look at more holistically and I am appreciative of that).
With that said, I was praying for the President this morning - as the Scripture teaches us to do. I was also reading Proverbs today and was reminded that for rulers of nations (kings, Presidents, etc.), God calls for love, faithfulness, and righteousness. Whatever your political leaning, may I ask you to join me in praying for our new President?
That God would grant him wisdom.
That God would lead him in the paths of righteousness.
That God would use him to inspire generations and ethnicities toward love, faithfulness, and righteousness.
And that God would use this moment to bring healing to our nation, and our world, in ways that can't be measured in dollars.
