Obama’s Election

What an amazing couple of days watching the US election and the speeches of concession and acceptance by both McCain and Obama! I haven't seen anything quite like the excitement this has generated since the days of the Kennedy’s and the Rev. Martin Luther King jnr. It evoked in me similar feelings to the historic possibilities that could have occurred in 1968 if Robert Kennedy lived to became president. Imagine, no Nixon, Watergate, a quick end to the war in Vietnam and a focus on lifting people out of poverty. I remember those exhilarating yet dark days well, even though I was only a teenager.

There is the same genuine hope for change and a refreshing redirection for the USA and of course the world through Barack Obama’s election.

Obama to me is an inspiring phenomenon, a truly charismatic communicator, who seems to have the right super cool temperament, great intelligence and good character to become a great leader. What’s more his profession of faith in Christ (as he revealed in the Rick Warren interview), his commitment to wife Michelle and obvious affection for his family, stand him in good stead to be a terrific role-model particularly for African-American men. It appears that there are no skeletons in the cupboard, and his integrity and authenticity impacts all who come in contact with him. However, power can easily corrupt and we need to pray for him, his policy decisions, the team he gathers around him and of course, for his personal safety.

Obama in one interview stated that Presidential leadership was all about vision, judgment and character. …“Do you know where you want to take this country?”… “Do you have the judgment to figure out what’s important and what’s not?”… “Do you have the character to withstand trials and tribulations and to bounce back from setbacks?”

I pray for his success as he with God’s help leads in a way that answers in the affirmative these three big leadership questions. How he leads will affect us all and the expectations of the world and not just the USA are huge. One commentator said “it’s the first election of a National leader that was followed closely by the entire globe”. It’s truly historic and Obama must be feeling the weight of it all! He really does need our prayers.

If you want to read a couple of excellent articles on leadership check out “Time” March 10 and October 27th, 2008. They explore the issue of “How much does experience matter and why science says it’s over-rated”, and “How a President’s temperament and personality can determine success or failure in times of crisis”.

I personally have followed John McCain’s political career and he is a man of outstanding character and integrity. McCain’s speech was so gracious. Wouldn’t it be great if Obama appointed him in a key role!

All people of goodwill should be very grateful to have professing Christians like our own Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd and now the new US President in high office at such a crucial time in world history. It’s comforting to know that men with such earthly power are humbly bowing their knees to the supreme authority in our world.

In 30 years we can all look back, and remember that we were witnesses to a historic event, the first black president of the USA! Let’s rejoice with the tens of millions of African Americans whose joy at this time is a beautiful thing to behold.