What a week!
The swirl, the buzz, the rapture of this election week kept me so busy in current events, that I am just now getting to my blog. Besides, there were enough pundits and bloggers around the world chiming in on their POV regarding our national election.
This was indeed an historical election way beyond the obvious that Senator Obama was elected as the first African-American U.S. President. For me, it was the voter turnout and the voter response that was so historical.
In all my voting adult life, I have not seen our country, our nation be so filled with so much joy, hope, gratitude and for a large portion of us, relief. I know that there have been people who have been happy when their candidate won an election but I never seen such jubilation as I have witnessed on the faces of thousands of people across our land. The diversity of those faces--in age, gender, ethnicity--all reflect what an amazing man Barack Obama is and what his presence represents to so many.
I know history is busy putting attention on him as the first African-American president --and well he may be--but I am too busy looking at him as a charismatic and confident leader who inspires such hope and confidence in so many of us, that I am once again, proud to be an American. I no longer avoid the television news or roll my eyes when I see a press conference or hear a sound byte from the current administration.
We have gone back to being excited for our future; feeling excited about the changes being made. Yes we can, and yes we did.
Tonight, at my church, we looked back to the future, too.
Chico Church of Religious Science celebrated it's 25th anniversary and acknowledged the founding pastor, Rev. Dr. Carolyn McKeown by bestowing upon her Pastor Emerita. It was an evening of gently looking back at the amazing accomplishments that have taken place for this church community during her leadership and spiritual guidance. We even took time to acknowledge our Practitioner Emerita, Martha Dunbar who not only continues to attend Sunday service, she recently created and gifted us with a $15,000 Scholarship fund to give to our youth between the ages of 17-25 to assist them in their higher educational needs.
Our church honored and celebrated the powerful past that gave rise to the community and place where we are now--and where I come in--to grow us into the next 25 years.
The time tunnel looking back reminded me that a mere 25 years ago, David and I had just gotten married in September and the movie, "Back To The Future" hadn't even been filmed. It was the start of a new chapter in my life with plot twists I could not have predicted. And yet, my spiritual journey was burgeoning and setting the story-line for who I am today.
With our festive decorations, yummy food and happy hoopla we took the time to connect the past with the present. I was pleased to announce my Installation event which will be in February, 2009 which inaugurates our future. Then the DJ took over and we all danced well into the night.
(Note to self: Don't wear 4" heels when dancing after having not danced for long periods of time.)
Real or imagined, the energetic of the recent election only helps to fuel the energy of the great ideas and visions I plan to co-create with our church. President-to-be is correct in that we each have a great deal we can do to revitalize the world as we know it. And of course, that includes adding a dog to one's family.
It was a year ago that I had the privilege of being in Washington D.C. for the Proclamation of Animal Compassion along with fellow clergy folk representing the Best Friends Animal Sanctuary. I know that great strides continue to take place for the animals in our nation--passing Proposition 2 in California is a fine example of that--and I know there is much more to do in this arena as well. I just want to put it out there in cyberspace that there are many adoption and shelter organizations from which to choose a purebred and hypo-allergenic animal to expand the Obama family. It will be an added endorsement and celebration if the Obama family does adopt a dog from a recognized animal welfare organization than buying from a breeder.
Don and I have planned to adopt our dog after we get fully acclimated and settled in Chico. And we are getting closer to that realization happening. We will probably get past the holidays first and take extra time to prepare Jezebelle for her new sibling. Maybe we can adopt our dog on January 20th, 2009 in honor of the new world order and happy family . . . In any case, I know that our dog will reveal itself to me in advance of his or her arrival. My dogs have always come to me in my dreams before our actual meeting --which is one of the reasons why I know it is not quite the right time.
Later this month, Don and I will go back to our personal future as we take the honeymoon we didn't have as we celebrate our first anniversary. I am so enthusiated (my word) as to what the future has in store for us, for me and for my spiritual community.
Oh, and Marty McFly had his dog with him on the journey, too.
Nice touch.
Wait a minim.....
Tonight, we rented the new film, "The Fabelmans" and loved it. Incredible performances, screenwriting and story-telling. I espec...
3 comments:
For every person who is joyous that Barack Obama was elected, there is a person who is deeply concerned for our country. And we aren't idiots, or hateful people, or people who should be dismissed.
We are people who see a man who isn't prepared to be president and is stepping into a role of leadership in a very dangerous time.
And we are people who believe that a major part of his platform, taking money from one group of people and giving it to another, is immoral. It would be wrong for me to steal your purse and it's no less wrong for the government to do so. Some of us also think it's damaging to the economy.
I did not support Senator McCain and am not happy with President Bush (though I don't buy the media representation of him as alternately stupid and evil).
I am also not attached to a particular party. I would love to see a Blue Dog democrat elected president. I would love to see the DNC move toward the center again, with policies that recognize the desires of more of the people of this country.
I hope that our country can move to a place of *real* hope and *real* healing and *shared* joy soon.
Hi Ellie,
Thank you for such honest, forthright and compassionate words. I so appreciate that you were able to share your feelings without dissing me for mine. It has been tricky in my public position to keep my politics in check.
I would proffer that even those who voted for Obama are deeply concerned for this country. And many of us, do not feel that if you didn't relate to or vote for Obama that qualified you as people to be dismissed. (Of course, there are just as many who regrettably did...)
And it is true that Obama steps into a presidency that is fraught with preexisting challenges of enormous proportions. Which is all the more reason that the enthusiasm and (voting) endorsement for his assuming this role plays a key factor in success for all of us.
Yes, I am thinking and sounding like the New Thought person that I am. But I teach and I believe that where we put our thoughts and energy makes a difference. So I am choosing to know that the groundswell of support and hope (even if it is borrowed hope for now) can and will make a difference for this new administration. Not just for Obama--but this administration of change.
BTW, could you explain for me what is a Blue Dog democrat? I have not heard that term and the only Blue Dog I know is the one by the Louisiana painter.
So I would offer to my friends and readers who are not Obama-ites, that I don't expect anyone to jump on his bandwagon if your heart is not there yet. You aren't going to genuinely move from one belief system to another overnight.
However, do what you can to move to a place of neutrality and objectivity; which I know will give rise to hope and faith and trust. Continue to be open and look for the Joy where ere ye can and let it multiply.
Love,
RDD
Well said, both of you. We shall all know more, in about 2 years.
D.C.
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