The pre-Socratic Natural Philosophers struggled to understand apparent changes in nature. If they were living today, would they ponder the political and social changes marked in Washington this day.
Much has been made about Barack Obama being the nation’s first Black President. If I am not mistaken, he is our first President of color, any color other than white. With his inauguration the all white boys club of the American Presidency has been integrated. How long, however will it take for the now racially integrated all boys club to welcome its first woman? Will that woman be Hillary, Sarah, or another? When will it admit its first Native American, Hispanic, or Asian? When will it admit its first Jew or Muslim? When will it receive its first agnostic or atheist? When will it accept its first open homosexual?
Barack Obama might be our nation’s first Black President, but that is not what is bothering me about him. What is bothering me is that when he was inaugurated he became the first President of the United States younger than me! Ouch!
In May of 2008 the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) elected the Reverend Bruce Reyes-Chow as moderator of the 218th General Assembly. The grandson of Filipino and Chinese immigrants, he represents the racial ethnic diversity the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) is seeking to more fully attract and embrace. And he too, like Obama, is the first Moderator of the General Assembly that is younger than me. Ouch again.
Many years ago a member of a Pastor Nominating Committee that ended up calling me as their Pastor later told me that the PNC had initially been concerned about my youth, equating my youth with inexperience. He told me that he pointed out to the other members of the PNC that his Physician, Accountant, and Lawyer were all younger than he was, so why shouldn’t his Pastor be younger as well?
With the inauguration of Barack Obama as the 44th President of the United States, much has changed. Unfortunately, part of that change is the recognition that I am aging. The pre-Socratic’s might be able to explain aging but they cannot stop it. President Obama might be able to reverse the many excesses of the former Bush Administration but he cannot reverse the aging process.
God bless President Obama and God Bless the United States of America.
SUMMIT TO SHORE: Theologically and philosophically informed eclectic ruminations on everything between summit to shore, especially cycling, hiking and backpacking, kayaking, religion, spirituality, philosophy, theology, politics, culture, travel, poetry, and creative writing by John Edward Harris, a progressive Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Minister of the Word and Sacrament.
1 comment:
I think Rick Ufford-Chase was also younger than you when he was elected moderator....
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