THROUGH
MOUNTAIN MISTS
Early Settlers of
Their
Descendants...Their Stories...Their Achievements
Lifting the
Mists of History on Their Way of Life
By: Ethelene Dyer Jones
A New Birth of
Freedom
Since the election in November,
2008, Committees
have been actively engaged in planning and implementing inauguration
activities
that will indicate change. The theme, "A New Birth of Freedom,"
chosen by the new president himself, will be evident in all the events
of this
auspicious occasion that sets America apart as a nation of freedom and
opportunity. The largest crowd in the history of inaugurations will be
in
attendance. Estimates are that from 1.5 to 4 million people will
converge on
Washington to view and participate in the inauguration day ceremonies.
Chief Justice of the
The Constitution of the United
States
mandates that the oath or affirmation of office must be administered
before the
president can "enter on the Execution" of duties as Chief Executive.
The words that will be repeated after the Chief Justice are these:
I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that
I will faithfully execute the Office
of
President of the United States, and
will to the best of my Ability, preserve,
Protect, and defend the Constitution
of the United States (So
help me God).
Advance word is that President
Obama plans
to repeat the optional codicil, as have presidents before him: "So help
me
God."
The invocation prayer will be
led by the
Rev. Rick Warren, senior and founding pastor of the Saddlebrook Church,
Lake
Forest, California. He is author of The
Purpose Driven Church and The
Purpose Driven Life. The latter book, long on the national
best-seller
list, answers scripturally the question, "What on earth am I here
for?" Criticism has been rife that Mr. Obama chose a conservative
pastor,
one who stands against abortion and gay marriage, as the person to lead
the
invocation. The benediction will be pronounced by the Rev. Joseph
Lowery, a
civil rights activist and minister in the United Methodist Church.
Ruffles and flourishes will
musically
announce the new president, followed by the stately and
highly-recognizable
"Hail to the Chief."
Since April 30, 1789 when George
Washington
was inaugurated on the balcony of Federal Hall in New York City, before
the capitol
was built in Washington, D. C., we have held to certain traditions,
ceremonies
and fanfare, all of which set apart the inauguration of the president
of the
United States as an auspicious occasion. We observe the peaceful
transfer of
leadership from one person to another, an earmark of a democratic form
of
government.
What can we as "ordinary"
citizens do—rank-and-file people of the United States, most of whom
will not be
in the massive Washington throng to participate in Mr. Obama's
inauguration? We
have the privilege of watching on television, so we can experience
vicariously
the excitement and launch of "A New Birth of Freedom." We can forget
partisan politics for awhile and know that the people, and our
electoral
college, determined peacefully our leader for the next four years. It
is our
duty as citizens to support him.
But there is something much more
important
we can do than watch—than become side-line spectators. We can help to
shape
history. That admonition was given by Paul the Apostle when he wrote to
young
Timothy, his "son" in the gospel: "Pray for rulers and for all
who have authority so that we can have quiet and peaceful lives full of
worship
and respect for God." (1 Timothy 2:2).
I think we would agree to the
terms of this
prayer expressed by Paul. And if we are truly to see "A New Birth of
Freedom," with the economy at a low ebb, and many factions warring
against
each other in the world and in America itself, we can agree to make a
difference by praying for rulers and for all in authority. If enough
pray, and
sincerely mean their petitions, then we will be able to live "quiet and
peaceful lives full of worship and respect for God." This is the
biblical
promise attached to the request to pray for leaders.
These words are engraved in the
State Room
of the White House, the house that Barack and Michelle Obama and their
daughters will occupy for the next four years. The words were written
by John
Adams, our second president, to his wife Abigail. They are a prayer
for all
of Adams' successors: "I pray Heaven to bestow the best of blessings on
this house and all that shall hereafter inhabit it. May none but honest
and
wise men ever rule under this roof."
May we enjoy inauguration, 2009.
We are
living history in all its pomp and circumstance. May we know, truly,
that this
time is "A New Birth of Freedom."
Updated August 23,
2009
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