Being A Witness To Evolution...

It’s not like me to pontificate on politics, yet I am compelled to share what was on my mind waking up this morning…

Last night, I sat in awe of what was unfolding before my eyes.   I was grateful to be alone in those hours because I couldn’t have mustered words to speak or thoughts that could be articulated.  It seemed a slow and steady flow of tears were the only route of escape for some of the wonder and gratitude that was consuming me.  I was witness to an evolutionary moment in a culture, one of the kind that until now was only seen in history books and recreated in movies.  I don’t think I would have been more captivated had Lake Michigan parted to usher George W. Bush out of town.

What we all witnessed was far more than a moment of change.  It is a shift in the collective conscious that will reshape the future in ways we might not imagine at the moment.  It will reshape the future into a history of a redefined America.  It may well be America’s graduation from infancy to toddlerhood; perhaps we have just taken our first step.  Wobbly as it may for a while, we have let go of the hand that until now we have held onto for fear that we might not know how to keep our own balance.  But, as toddlers do, in a moment we found courage to move beyond the “safety” of dependency on a system that promised to be “for our own good” to the confidence in our innate wisdom and human responsibilities to explore another path.  We have gotten up off our knees and put one foot in front of the other.  

I believe that regardless of who was elected last night, change would have occurred.  John McCain is a brilliant, kind, and well intentioned man.  He may have been a good leader and created some level of difference in the experience of being an American.   But it would have been like attempting to fix the problems by the same means that created them in the first place, perpetuating a cycle of chaos.  The American family has gathered a new set of tools with an eye on discovery the true meaning of democracy.

Some of the most compelling images that flooded my vision were that:

Every child in America can now look to the White House, the house that was built by slaves, and freely imagine themselves or any one of their classmates living and working in it.  

The most powerful man in the country, whose face and voice are now as familiar as family, represents unity and commonality on so many levels.  This has never ever been the case before.

The words our new leader speaks make sense in any dialect, at any community center, and at any kitchen table.  Barak Obama speaks to us and for us - not at us.  That was at first almost too good to be true, but now is infinitely refreshing.  Hasn’t it renewed your expectations?

The newest generation of voters are only scarcely aware of the magnitude of having their voices heard or of their influence in reshaping America’s future.

And, they did it by simply paying attention, believing in something different, and trusting their own ability and right to have a say. This will inspire a fearlessness we haven’t known.

The path for them has been paved by three generations who’s sacrifice and fortitude forged the way.   We should recognize and understand how valuable that is.

Commitment to America functioning as a unified nation rather than as a partisan family feud seems possible, and more so after hearing both McCain’s concession speech and Obama’s victory speech.

I was moved by McCain’s honesty, sincere attitude, and tone of resilience.  He reflected the most fundamental spirit of what makes this such an incredible moment in America’s evolution – we are moving into a new and more mature phase of America’s development.  Let’s pray his supporters hear him.

Obama did not promise to have all the answers or ask us to sit back and trust him.  He does not represent the “father knows best” mentality we’ve found hard to let go of.  He made it clear that we are all in this together, that he will not always be as popular as he is today, and that we will have “false starts” and “calluses on our hands”.  This is the reality that we may find difficult to accept at times.  But, part of any real growth is realizing that not everything we have based our beliefs and faith in is absolute.  Letting go of the standards that have created a situation is the only way to change the situation.  Recognizing them can be difficult.  Let’s try to stay conscious.

While I am hopeful about the changes I’m about to see in my own experience in this life, I am more so grateful for the opportunity to imagine a world that has a chance of enduring based on respect, hope, and unity.  I am overwhelmed to know that our children and grand children are now the first generation of a new America. This is true regardless of what does or doesn’t happen in government over the next four years.  Because of this story, they have been empowered to recreate America’s legacy.  

So, beyond speculation on the daunting task of dealing with the issues at hand – economy, war, heath care, education, environment, etc… I marvel that we have initiated and witnessed an eternal bend in the evolution of humanity…


PEACE + LOVE  ~ L