“How little do my countrymen know what precious blessings they are in possession of,
and which no other people on earth enjoy!”
Thomas Jefferson
(1883 painting of Washington viewing his weary ragtag army)
On April 30, 1789 George Washington took the oath of office in New York,
telling those gathered that,
“I walk on untrodden ground.”
Fast forwarding to today (Friday) and to the event taking place some 500 miles north of me…
it is an event that our Nation has witnessed taking place for over 200 years…
The peaceful transition of power.
Today’s event is NOT a political event but rather, as one commentator noted,
a hallowed event of our Nation’s sacred civil republic’s duties and actions.
A non-partisian moment for all Americans.
A non political event that is rather,
a unifying civil event.
It is a moment that visibly demonstrates that what makes America,
America,
works.
It works in great part due to the fact that she is grounded with the world’s
longest surviving constitution.
A living breathing document that has sustained a democratic republic for 226 years.
And yet in Washington’s obvious trepidation of charting a new course for a new nation,
I surmise that the first President couldn’t help but feel a strong sense of encrouagement.
Encouragement for his newly formed fledgling Nation that was badly torn and tattered,
but oh so encouraged that she was finally moving forward none the less.
So when I awoke this morning,
I too was encouraged.
The sun was rising,
as it was ready to vanquish the night.
I readied myself…
in order to make my way to Atlanta to spend the day with Dad,
who, is defiantly holding his own…
a fact that leaves me buoyed with encouragment.
During my journey along the highway,
I was happy to see the storm clouds from the night prior parting,
giving way to snippets of a welcoming blue sky.
I was encouraged hearing and feeling the thunderous rumblings of the myriad of
tractor trailer trucks passing by…
signaling that American commerce was busy at work.
As I topped a hill on the periphery of the city,
I was greeted by the ever-growing and ever-widening skyline of Atlanta.
Encouraged that the air was clear and that the view welcoming.
I was encouraged knowing,
that as I made my way closer and closer to Dad,
America was still America.
I was encouraged that there had been no global market collapse,
no marshal law instated,
no mass hysteria,
no lemmings diving off cliffs en masse.
The day, as well as life, was progressing forward…
despite all the fear mongering,
the ugly protests,
the naysaying,
the name calling
the overt negativism,
the chanting of ill and bad will,
the hateful rhetoric,
the wailing,
and gnashing of all the disillusionist’s teeth…
America was doing what she does and has always done best…
she was moving forward…once again…
without ever skipping a beat.
And in that one fact I know President Washington would, just as I am,
be thoroughly encouraged.
“For this end, we must be knit together in this work as one man,
we must entertain each other in brotherly affection,
we must be willing to abridge our selves of our superfluities for the supply of
others’ necessities.
We must uphold a familiar commerce together in all meekness, gentleness,
patience and liberality.
We must delight in each other, make others’ conditions our own,
rejoice together,
mourn together,
labor,
and suffer together,
always having before our eyes our commission and community in the work,
our community as members of the same body.
So shall we keep the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace,
the Lord will be our God and delight to dwell among us, as His own people
and will command a blessing upon us in all our ways,
so that we shall see much more of His wisdom,
power,
goodness,
and truth then formerly we have been acquainted with.”
John Winthrop
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