Oh, No You Can't!

Two nights ago, President Barack Obama died.  The reason that Americans nor the world has heard about it, is because it happened in a dream I had.  He did not die from assassination or from an accident or some kind of terrorist act as many might expect or even fear. No, in my dream, he simply died from an unexplained illness.

When I awoke, the sadness stayed with me and as I "analyzed" this dream out loud with my husband, it occurred to me that Barack Obama did die.  During his 2 1/2 years of presidency, the hope which I and many other Americans equated with Barack Obama, has given way to despair.   A deep feeling that things will never change...that truly the "mantra" being shouted into the faces of the ordinary, middle class American citizen, is "no you can't!"  Everything I and many other Americans felt that election night in November, 2008 -- all the hope and anticipation that things were really changing, that we ordinary Americans really do have power -- for many of us, that has died. 

But perhaps, for Christians, it is wrong to be putting hope in any man or man-made government.  Perhaps the most important thing we can do each day is put our hope in the God who created us in His  image.  Usually when I am least expecting it, something happens that gives me incredible hope;  something that can only be the working of the Holy Spirit, usually in very simple, humble manisfestations.  This morning, I witnessed it in the incredible rain we had; something rare in Hays, Kansas.   And that was enough to redirect my attention properly to that God of all wonders.  As Christians, we can all have the "audacity of hope".  And we can pray. Daily, I will continue to pray for our president, and the other leaders of this nation.  Will you join me?