Everyone has been Given the Power to change.
I first said “No, No, No and now I say, Yes, Yes, Yes”. These were the words from my mother-in-law at our wedding reception 20 years ago. In 1988 my wife Gail (who is white) and I (black), took a bold step, even for the 80’s. We got married. A black man and white woman getting married and doing it in public (wedding was over looking a bluff in Santa Monica), was not a popular decision.
On the night of the election, after the results were in. My mother-in-law called and asked to speak to me. There was energy of newness in her voice. There was a deep connection beyond the words. There was a spiritual connection and an opportunity for change in the air. We laughed and loved and talked about the power of the present and the hope of the future.
I could feel life coming through the phone. I had goose bumps while I was watching the speeches of Obama and McCain and even greater goose bumps in speaking with Bernie, my mother-in law. She has always been one of my favorite people. She’s had her beliefs and they were strong, but over the years I’ve seen her surrender more and more to the conscience. I’ve seen her being willing to learn and grow. I’ve seen her lose a husband, go through her own process of learning how to deal with that lost and come out of it stronger and more vibrant than anyone could have expected.
The Time is now
The time is now. The work to be done is now. We’ve gotten a new lease on the conscience. This election has given us the opportunity to expand our listening and our ability to become world leaders again. The world is watching us, counting on us to deliver on the promise. Yes, Obama is the new president, but it doesn’t stop there. It begins there. Each of us has been called into duty, called to do our job, bring our love and deliver on our destinies. If you now feel that Obama is your savior, then get out of the way. He isn’t. He isn’t even the first black president, just the first acknowledged one. We had Jackson, Coolidge, and Lincoln before, just to name a few.
We now have an opportunity to follow the conscience in our daily lives. We’ve always wanted our vote to count and this time it did. What happened on Election Day was a spiritual action. It wasn’t a political action. I could feel the spirit in the speeches of McCain and Obama. Even Bush, who has been devoid of spirit during his 8 years in office, had a twinge of spirit in his voice when he addressed the nation today.
The party is on
Everyone is partying and rejoicing with the new levels of hope that hit us like an astroid. Even the people who didn’t vote for Obama felt lifted by the results. I was talking to a dear companion of mine, Henry Conyers and he said, “I hope the party continues by each individual stepping up and doing their part”. “If each of us doesn’t do our part, the party will be short lived”.
Don’t leave the conscience hanging. If you truly want change, then embrace the opportunity and get your butt’s moving. Demonstrate your willingness to listen to conscience and follow it. The world is now again focused on America and Americans. Will we do our duty or will be run, get scared and not deliver on the spiritual message that came through as a result of the election.
Ask the conscience and when you do, then be willing to listen and act.
