Congratulations President-Elect Obama...You Are In My Prayers

Though there are many differences I have on policy with Barack Obama, I am excited for him and his supporters. While never having issues with race myself (one of my best friends in HS was an Afr-Amer named, Evan Saunders) I am happy that those who have struggled against racism finally have a man they feel truly represents them.

It says something good about us when 130+ million Americans go to the polls civilly and elect their first black president by a strong majority. I know racism still exists in many places but hopefully this election will do a lot of damage to it. I know white people who are afraid of black leaders. Maybe President Obama can put their fears to rest. I know black people who feel there is always an inequity to overcome in life. Maybe this election will tear down any real or imagined wall of injustice in front of every person of color. Maybe this can be a new day when racists on both sides have no real argument.

My hope primarily is that President Obama will follow the path of President Lincoln at the end of the Civil War when his second term began. Some around Lincoln then wanted the Southern leaders tried and hung for war crimes. Lincoln knew that these former enemies were now his countrymen and with the war's end, the future of the country hung in the balance. He resisted the radicals on both sides as well as the intoxication of his own power to cast a vision of a peaceful, united country. His image of America was inspiringly illustrated in his second inaugural address when Lincoln said,

"With malice toward none, with charity for all, with firmness in the right as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in, to bind up the nation’s wounds, to care for him who shall have borne the battle and for his widow and his orphan, to do all which may achieve and cherish a just and lasting peace among ourselves and with all nations."

For those who are cheering today for President Obama it may seem, as with President Lincoln, that a great civil war has been won. And in many ways it has. Now President Obama has a great opportunity and a monumental challenge. Will he use his power to attempt to subdue his opposition? Or will he resist those who want revenge and power and do what is right for America as God gives him the ability to see the right?

Unfortunately an assasin's bullet cut President Lincoln down before his conciliatory approach to reconstruction could be implemented. Without Lincoln's influence and political adroitness the reconstruction period spiraled into retribution and ugliness and lit the flames of racism still burning today (the KKK was born then). Ironically, President Obama, our first African-American president, may be able to complete some of the work of Father Abraham. Let us pray for him and support him as we can without abandoning our principles. Our prayers for him may be more vital than any contribution he has received. And let us love and accept our brothers and sisters on both sides of this election and make our new president's job easier.