A Wake Up Call

I heard the Imam make the call to prayer at 5:15 this morning. It wafted through the valleys and along the hillsides where we live. I had been waiting for this morning for a long time. Election Day in the U.S.A. Waiting with anticipation that Barack Obama might win. Fear that something might happen that would throw the nation in turmoil and dash my hope . . . our hopes. Wanda and many of our friends and family were holding on to the same hopes and fears.

With fear mingled with hope I turned on the computer to go online. This is the moment when I would peer into the darkness to learn the results. For some reason the Old Testament story of Daniel in the lion’s den came to mind. Daniel, King Darius’ most trusted advisor, had been betrayed by palace intrigue and was sentenced to death in the lion’s den. He was thrown in overnight, if he survived the night in the presence of hungry lions he was free. King Darius stayed up all night, refusing food and waiting for dawn. At daybreak he went to see if Daniel made it through the night alive, hoping against hope. And he had. What a relief and joy that must have been! And it was a similar feeling that I had, going to been hoping against hope that everything the pundits were saying was going to happen, but fearful. And as North America was going to bed, we were rising to the news of an Obama victory. And we shared our relief and joy in the morning.

Over the past year of campaigning (he said 22 months ago, for him) Barack Obama has shown an incredible steadiness, intellect, discipline and, frankly, a Christian witness. In the face of much false charges and innuendo he has not responded in kind as is normative in political campaigns. In his speeches Obama has always been gracious. In his victory speech in Grant Park in Chicago, he acknowledged his opponent’s achievements. He said that Americans owed a debt of gratitude to John McCain for the long service his has given to his country. He said that he wanted to be president of the all Americans not just those who voted for him. He has steadfastly refused to take the low road in politics, not demonizing his opponent, even though he has been the recipient of slander. Not once did he attack Sarah Palin personally although she personally attacked him time and again. What a witness! On the one hand I was proud to associate myself with such a person of high character. On the other hand I was embarrassed by those who call themselves Christians who supported all the personal attacks from the Christian conservative far right.

So I echo the words of Michelle Obama in saying that I am proud to be an American today. When Michelle said it in the primary season she was attacked for the implication it made and after that we never heard from her again. But many of us silently nodded and understood. I am proud to be an American today, I have never been able to say that with such conviction and passion in my adult life before, in a political or national sense. Oh, I remember being happy that Bill Clinton was elected President but it felt like the lesser of two evils. I was in high school when Jimmy Carter was elected President so I didn’t have the experience of years to feel joy (but I have grown in admiration for Jimmy Carter over the years, a truly Christian man). I am proud that America has elected someone of Obama’s character and intellect. I am proud that America has chosen the high road over the low road in politics. It makes me believe that change is possible over the next 4 years. A hope I haven’t had in a long, long time.

Finally, this blog was a long time in coming. I wasn’t sure whether to write it or not. But I thank my MCC colleague in Bangladesh who wrote so well about her feelings on the eve of this historic election: We are hoping to celebrate the election of Barack Obama as next President of the United States. You may be able to hear us from across the ocean if you listen carefully, or maybe not, maybe there will just be silent tears of joy as the full impact of the news really settles in. I'm not trying to start a political debate, I am aware that some of you are hoping for different results, but not to mention it would be to leave out a huge part of our lives here.

That applies to us as well. At the risk of starting a political debate, I write this blog because leaving it out would leave out a huge part of our lives here as well. Our office is adorned with an Obama/ Biden sign and the Ethiopians love it! So there it will stay for a long time. And so on Friday night we will celebrate fresh start with a party at our house. And so I await the next milestone in this journey, January 20, Inauguration Day . . .