Prayers for a President

I hope you have had the opportunity to hear the Rev. Dr. Sharon Watkins preach to the new President of the United States. This morning, before launching into a big day of work, he, Michelle, the Bidens and other leaders shared in a service of worship at the National Cathedral. To this gathering of the powerful, Sharon spoke strongly and powerfully from the foundation of the gospel, calling on the President to keep centered on that which is right and is true, to not give way to the temptations of power. Borrowing from a Cherokee wisdom story, she talked about the internal struggle that goes on inside us:

"There are two wolves struggling inside each of us," the old man said. "One wolf is vengefulness, anger, resentment, self-pity, fear . . . "The other wolf is compassion, faithfulness, hope, truth, love . . ." The grandson sat, thinking, then asked: "Which wolf wins, Grandfather?" His grandfather replied, "The one you feed."

Throughout the sermon she called upon the President and the leaders of the nation to feed the good wolf. There will be temptations to choose anger and revenge, but choose compassion and hope instead.

She invoked an image the President has also invoked, that image from Genesis of being one's brother's and sister's keeper. That word goes together with another -- to love God and love neighbor, which she noted was the common ground a group of Muslim Scholars have issued a call to conversation.

But the temptation is to be drawn away from this calling:

In the days immediately before us, there will be much to draw us away from the grand work of loving God and the hard work of loving neighbor. In crisis times, a basic instinct seeks to take us over – a fight/flight instinct that leans us toward the fearful wolf, orients us toward the self-interested fast . . .

When those times come, where the temptation is to go away from the high road, it is necessary to return to our ethical center. That is the charge she left with him and with us -- to embrace our better nature -- that good wolf.

This was an important statement that calls on us to a new hope and a new purpose, in a new day.

If you'd like to watch the service here is a link to CSPAN's coverage.

For a pdf transcript of the words of this sermon -- click here.

Just one last word -- as a Disciples I am proud to have had the opportunity to watch my pastor -- the head of my denomination -- issue this word. Oh, and Cynthia Hale, pastor of Ray of Hope Christian Church didn't a pretty good job reading the Scriptures!