in this moment i pray

I haven't posted anything since November 4, 2008. That was election day. It was a confusing moment and a confusing day for me. I was proud of us that day for removing another obstacle from the path of equality for all. We still haven't arrived. We still have much work to do. Prejudices of many kinds still exist, but we're making progress. I was also saddened that day, and really throughout the entire campaign process, by many things.

Why does there have to be a right and a left? Because I believe that most people live somewhere in the middle. But we only hear from the right and the left; they seem to shout the loudest. They are the ones who insist that their voices be heard, but I'm not sure either of them speak for me or the majority.

I was saddened back in August at the way 80,000 people worshiped Barack Obama as he accepted the nomination of his party. Today was inauguration day. Our president placed his hand on a bible and was sworn in before God, the nation, and even the world. Again he was worshiped. An estimated 1.4 million people in attendance on the mall in Washington D.C. plus millions (probably billions) more watching on television all over the world!! Those numbers are staggering to me.

I may not have recognized any moments since November 4th but I recongize this moment. I never cared anything before about watching a president get sworn in...but I watched this one. These are disturbing times and millions are counting on him. Millions have put their trust in him. Barack Obama has a crushing load to bear. I pray that he and his people are up to the task. I pray that our country weathers this storm. I pray...I pray...In this moment I pray.

Psalm 146

Praise the Lord!
Praise the Lord, O my soul!
I will praise the Lord as long as I live;
I will sing praises to my God all my life long.
Do not put your trust in princes,
in mortals, in whom there is no help.
When their breath departs, they return to the earth;
on that very day their plans perish.

Happy are those whose help is the God of Jacob,
whose hope is in the Lord their God,
who made heaven and earth,
the sea, and all that is in them;
who keeps faith forever;
who executes justice for the oppressed;
who gives food to the hungry.

The Lord sets the prisoners free;
the Lord opens the eyes of the blind.
The Lord lifts up those who are bowed down;
the Lord loves the righteous.
The Lord watches over the strangers;
he upholds the orphan and the widow,
but the way of the wicked he brings to ruin.

The Lord will reign forever,
your God, O Zion, for all generations.
Praise the Lord!

a friend moment

I had the opportunity yesterday to work on a project with a colleague. I had been around this person a few times before and most of the time I came away from those encounters thinking that this person didn't like me. I didn't know why. I had searched my brain and couldn't come up with anything that I might have said or done to offend. In the past, my efforts toward friendship seemed to be in vain. Yesterday began no differently. Try as I might to be cordial; I sensed coldness in return.

The activity that we were involved in required us, at one point, to drive from one venue to another in separate vehicles. As I drove, I prayed. I began with, "I don't want to be around this person ever again. Can you make that happen God?" But soon I was saying, "I don't mean that. Whatever the barrier between us, can you remove it?"

Who knows, maybe the same prayer was being said in the other car...about me. Maybe I was the problem. Maybe I'm not as wonderful as I think! I don't know who changed or what changed, but what I found on the other end of that five minute drive was a friend. Prayer changes things.