LISTENING TO MR. OBAMA

I was blessed yesterday with a rare night off. My plan was simply to stay at home with Dianne, watch her TV shows with her (for Dianne Tuesdays mean NCIS and The Mentalist). Just as I started to settle into the family room, she announced that NCIS had not yet started. Mr. Obama was going to speak. Although I did not support his candidacy and disagree with him on many key issues, he is my President. Having held a couple of key presidencies myself (including that of my denomination during some turbulent days of transition), I understand it to be a tough, often thankless job. You have less freedom to lead than you think. Everyone, including your own party, has their own agendas--and their support of you wavers when you infringe upon their priorities. As my friend Lori Dixon once said in a memo, "Every sacred cow has a mother."

To say he has a challenge is an understatement. Expections were incredibly high when he was first elected, almost ridiculously so. My Lord and Savior would have had trouble living up to those expectations--especially since so many were at cross purposes. On top of it, he was elected by persons who supported his platform and others who were desperate for a change. More than one person, looking at the sinking economy, troubled by the persistence of the war in Iraq, frustrated with their unrealized dreams,simply voted for Mr. Obama because they desired a change.

I am not convinced that the solutions his administration has undertaken will succeed--but I agree with him last night on one point. They will take time and great self-dsicipline on the part of a people not noted for their delayed gratificiation. But I listen to what he says because in his attempts to lead, I am listening for where the Holy Spirit is saying, "Give this a chance, do your part. Your nation needs salt and light Christians who are solid, responsible, prayerful citizens. Party lines mean nothing when the ship is in trouble. People who know how to steer and how to sail and how to bail are what a democracy like the US needs to ride out this storm.

(You can send comments or questions to me at sdunnpastor@coglandisville.org)