Dawn breaks over the Grand River, January 20, 2009"So let us mark this day with remembrance, of who we are and how far we have traveled. In the year of America's birth, in the coldest of months, a small band of patriots huddled by dying campfires on the shores of an icy river. The capital was abandoned. The enemy was advancing. The snow was stained with blood. At a moment when the outcome of our revolution was most in doubt, the father of our nation ordered these words be read to the people: "Let it be told to the future world...that in the depth of winter, when nothing but hope and virtue could survive...that the city and the country, alarmed at one common danger, came forth to meet [it]."
Collage of pictures taken with my camera while watching CNN
America. In the face of our common dangers, in this winter of our hardship, let us remember these timeless words. With hope and virtue, let us brave once more the icy currents, and endure what storms may come. Let it be said by our children's children that when we were tested we refused to let this journey end, that we did not turn back nor did we falter; and with eyes fixed on the horizon and God's grace upon us, we carried forth that great gift of freedom and delivered it safely to future generations."
Excerpt from President Barack Obama's Inaugural Address January 20, 2009
Early morning walk by the riverThawing out in front of the fireplace at home I watched the inauguration of Barack Obama and was moved to tears by the words spoken, the prayers, the music and the response of the millions of people watching the ceremony. It reminded me of the clean snow and bright sunlight I had seen earlier in the day.
America is presented with a new day, a clean slate, fresh hope and a challenge for the future. The trail I walked will become muddy in the spring as the seasons transition. America will continue to face its problems in the weeks and months ahead. I pray for the green of spring, the fruitfulness of summer and the abundance of autumn for our friends and neighbours in United States.
Amen.
ReplyDeleteAmen, but...
ReplyDeleteNot to be the jaded one here, but we have far from a clean slate. I still see massive layoff in my town, people losing their homes, banks not loaning, food bank lines growing while donations drop.
Changing a few figureheads and fancy speeches won't fix all that is broken. The president does not have as much power as people like to credit him with. I really wanted to be inspired by his speech, and I am hopeful for our future (I have to be) but I am also reserved about all the hype. While I do not expect immediate results, I know I am going to have to see serious determined efforts towards change to believe. Not only from the politicians but from all the individuals who expected the government do to it all for us.
Your prayer for the country I love is beautiful. It is a glorious day for the world
ReplyDeleteI, too, am inspired and hopeful. True, our President can't fix all that's broken alone, but I believe that if anyone can bring us together and set things right, Obama is he. Great inaugural speech, beautifully delivered.
ReplyDeleteAmen..I think he was very honest about the problems we face..the difference is that I think his administration can have an impact on them...
ReplyDeleteJaspenelle- I was saying that the new president has a clean slate on which to start making decisions to try and get America out of the mess it is in. It may be a long, muddy spring and the change will be slow, but I think he has inspired hope in many people. In difficult times people need a strong leader.
ReplyDeleteIt was a very moving presentation, indeed. I had the kleenex box right beside me!
ReplyDeleteI'm with you on that all the way. I'm optimistic that we will move in a new direction but I am realistic enough to realize that not everything can be accomplished on his watch.
ReplyDeleteWe have so much to do and to undo. But I do believe we have started back down the right path. We are being tested, but we will continue to persevere and face those common dangers.
ReplyDeleteToday I am so proud to be an American. And there have been many days in the past eight years when I was not proud of what our country was doing.
Me too--moved to tears.
ReplyDeleteA great day.
It does give me hope.
Thank you Ruth. For me, it feels like a great cloud has been lifted from our land.
ReplyDeleteWonderful post Ruth. Amen!
ReplyDeleteI am an outsider,in that I am from Canada.My prayer is that the US will be able to go forward under the guidance of President Obama.I must say that I am truly thankful for our neighbors to the souh,the USA.
ReplyDeleteBlessings to the USA and to you,Ruth
Ruth, I was so moved by the events of today on my television. Now I'm just as moved by your words.
ReplyDeleteThanks,
Mary
Now I certainly have to watch the inauguration speech (still on a different time zone here in Germany). Long live you tube!
ReplyDeleteI pray Obama can lead and inspire our country in the days ahead.
Amen. We are moving forward, as we need to, with a person I feel I trust and respect. And I have not been able to say that about a president in my lifetime.
ReplyDeleteOh Ruth... I have tears in my eyes. What a lovely post, and even lovelier collage you created. Indeed, it's a new day... Thanks be to God.
ReplyDeleteIt is a day that I will never forget for the rest of my life!
ReplyDeleteThank you for this nice post, Ruth.
ReplyDeleteEven though I didn't vote for him, I hope he does well as president. It's certainly not going to be an easy job and I hope that all Americans realize that he can't fix everything by himself and that it's going to take effort on every American citizen's part to get our country straightened out again.