Inauguration Day 2009

January 20, 2009, the day we saw the 44th President of the United States inaugurated. It was indeed an historic day for this country. In my lifetime I have lived through the change that has brought people from the African-American community through social changes kept them from entering restaurants, using public restrooms, riding on public transportation, etc. to one from that community becoming President of the United States. That makes it historic in my way of thinking.

For me it was exciting and a day of intrigue. It was exciting to see Barack Obama take the oath of office. It was interesting to say the least to see the throngs of people trying to catch a glimpse of the new President and his wife. I even found myself interested in watching the events at the balls held in the evening.

Obviously much of the excitement of the day had to do with Barack Obama becoming the first non-white President. While obviously not all of the non-white community voted for Obama, it was for most of them a moment to be remembered and cherished. For many Americans it was an historic day that represents the hope that someday we will be able to move past the racism in this country that has created so many social ills and that still to some extent motivates people to commit deplorable acts.

And so whether or not one is aligned with Obama's political agenda, change has come to this country. It remains to be seen if this change will result in more changes that are desperately needed or not. We who are citizens of this nation are the ones who will determine what the long term effects of this change will be.

Having said all of the above, I must conclude by asserting my true allegience. While I engage to a small degree in the affairs of our country as a citizen, my first and primary citizenship is in God's Kingdom where Jesus is King. Living in this reality identifies me, in the words of Scripture, as an alien, a pilgrim and a stranger, and one without an enduring city, but one who seeks the city that is to come. For me that colors all that I do in my relationship to this earthly kingdom.

And so it is that I remain

Pilgrim on the way