Inauguration - the aftermath

On the day of the Inauguration, I was in Waco working at Baylor University - a moderately conservative baptist school. Maybe it was because we are "moderately" conservative and have staff on both sides of the political lines, but everyone who watched the historic moments in our office were respectful and interested. Don't get me wrong, there was a joke or two but no expressions of bitterness. I was glad to see it and assumed this was normal everywhere. Obama may not have been our guy here in Texas or much of the South but he is now the guy and Tuesday was an historic day.

And then I started seeing the blogosphere and the crazy news pundits. People on Fox news claiming Obama wasn't really president because Chief Justice Roberts mixed up a couple of words on the oath. Keith Oberman on the left and Hannity on the right maintaining their sarcastic and bitter mantras. You'd think Keith would actually express some of the joy and hope that his party is touting these days, but I guess not. Then my friends who live in other parts of the state or country sharing their stories of seeing around them racism, apathy, bitterness, and even wishes of harm on the president or even the nation to prove their points. These friends were appalled at what they saw and rightly so in my mind. Their writings about the day can be found by clicking here and here. They're well written good words, so take a look if you have the time. Even a blog I have been reading by a group of New England Democrats has continued to spew hatred and bitterness towards Bush and the old regime even after he is gone. It's pathetic.

I didn't vote for Obama. There are many things he campaigned on that I disagree with. However, he is now our president and a new beginning can be here if we allow it to be. That doesn't mean follow him blindly wherever he leads. It means look forward. Trust in God. If you're involved in the political world, continue to stand for your beliefs and push forward. But don't start out with bitterness and hatred. Nothing good can come of it. Bitterness is poison.

Ephesians 4:29-32 says this:

Eph 4:29	Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear.
Eph 4:30	Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
Eph 4:31	Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice.
Eph 4:32	Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.

Hopefully with my small set of readers, I'm just preaching to the choir here.