Yesterday, some 75 or so people representing six different nations gathered at Mosaic to witness the moment together; that is, the historic inauguration of Barak Obama as the 44th President of the United States of America. And may I say, what a privilege it was for me personally to share the experience particularly with African American members of our unique community of faith! To watch as different ones of them wept at points, reached out to hold one another's hand, embrace or otherwise make eye contact in a deep, transcendent way, etc., nuanced for me as a White man that which I cannot otherwise fully understand. Indeed, their individual sighs of relief, groans of joy too deep for words and cheers of celebration underscored for me all the more the absolute significance of this moment. For more than merely historical, I believe it was redemptive; first for African Americans as a people, and then for all of us as Americans. Indeed, the tears shed throughout the ceremony - even from my own eyes - washed over the room that day, like gentle rain ... healing, seemingly cleansing us all from the pain and injustice of our collective past.
For as I have written previously, Obama's remarkable achievement is one rightly shared by this entire people group, namely African Americans; and every citizen of this great land should recognize together with them the coming to fruition of centuries-old faith, of countless seeds of courage (sown often in the face of fear or death), and of infinite personal, unseen sacrifices that have led inevitably (as it always does, in His time) to reward and blessing. Beyond this, we know (and saw again yesterday) that African Americans have historically found their strength in the Judeo-Christian faith, the God of the Bible and most specifically, the Lord Jesus Christ. And I pray that President Obama will be led and blessed by He who is our God; and that in addition, Obama's tenure will inspire a renewed faith in the hope and promise of America among other minority groups as well, truly in all Americans regardless of race or class distinctions.
So now our President's work begins; but in so many ways ours, at Mosaic, continues. And what's at stake is not just the collective good of the country, but the eternal souls of men and women in our community who need to see the light of Christ authentically displayed in and through our love for one another; that is, to see individuals of diverse experience and background walking, working and worshipping God together as one so that they will come to know Him as we do. Toward that end, we remain a church for others, for all people ... a church we call Mosaic!
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