My Hope
I love speeches—good ones, at least. A large part of my job as a pastor is to give speeches (sermons). Words can be so powerful and, when put together well, they can be works of art.
Yesterday, Joseph Robinette Biden, Jr., gave a speech at his presidential inauguration. As I listened, I noticed that my guard was up. (This has been a reality for me with the past two presidents.) President Biden’s words stirred up hope at times, and stirred up grief at times as well. In this post I will describe to you what filled me with hope. (If you are interested in what grieved me you can let me know and I may or may not write about that.)
Most of my hope came when he spoke of unity. Some of my grief came during this time as well, but again, this email is focusing on the hope. In the section where President Biden shared what he thought America’s foes are, I felt hope. He said:
“Uniting to fight the foes we face: anger, resentment, hatred, extremism, lawlessness, violence, disease, joblessness and hopelessness. With unity, we can do great things, important things. We can right wrongs.“
To this list, though, I would have added fear and deception. These are things I can unite against. I don’t know if he would agree that these foes can be found in both parties, but I do think if we can focus on standing against these things instead of standing against each other, we will be able to see more clearly and legislate much more effectively.
Then, with this paragraph, I was filled with hope again:
“History, faith and reason show the way, the way of unity. We can see each other not as adversaries, but as neighbors. We can treat each other with dignity and respect. We can join forces, stop the shouting and lower the temperature. For without unity, there is no peace—only bitterness and fury. No progress—only exhausting outrage. No nation—only a state of chaos.”
This last year was definitely a year of bitterness and fury, exhausting outrage, and chaos. History, faith, and reason are definitely worth listening to. And it would be great to see each other as neighbors instead of adversaries. And President Biden and his team have a powerful opportunity to demonstrate, not in word but in deed, the way of unity.
Lastly, this was a hopeful thought:
“And so today, at this time, in this place, let’s start afresh, all of us. Let’s begin to listen to one another again. Hear one another, see one another, show respect to one another. Politics doesn’t have to be a raging fire, destroying everything in its path. Every disagreement doesn’t have to be a cause for total war.”
Politics does seem to be a raging fire doing damage. It is hard to see it getting any better, but President Biden is asking for a fresh start and for us all to give him a chance to make politics helpful again. And since my hope is based on God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, instead of presidents or any human’s strength or wisdom, I have every reason to hope and hope fully.
Pastor Kurt Cotter shared this prayer of blessing from the Psalms at our fasting and prayer night last night. Please join me in praying this over America, the land that I love and my home, sweet home:
“May God show loving-kindness toward us and bring good to us. May He make His face shine upon us. May Your way be known on the earth, and Your saving power among all nations. May the people praise You, O God. May all the people praise You. May the nations be glad and sing for joy. For You will be fair when You judge the people and rule the nations of the earth. May the people praise You, O God. May all the people praise You.”
Peace to you,
David