Jan 21, 2009 | 7:02 am
A Magical Day
Yesterday I had many magical moments, watching as my new hero takes on a new responsibility. How wonderful to have a modern day hero. I think I had become cynical (yes, me!) assuming that all the heroes had gone before my lifetime. Don’t get me wrong, we always have the “modern day” heroes, those moms and co-workers and pastors and everyday citizens doing good work. But not until now has my generation experienced what my aunts had with Kennedy and MLK jr.
Watching the formal inauguration process with 15 of my coworkers and one of my firm’s clients, I was joined in a communal celebration. Some people were moved by Aretha, some by President Obama’s speech, and others were moved more by the sheer numbers of people in attendance. I personally didn’t have a tear pass my cheek until the benediction by Dr. Joseph Lowery.
I was joined online as well. With the Facebook plugin on the CNN TV feed, I conversed with friends across the country simultaneously. I watched my 2nd grade friend Marlynn comment about her experience, my sister wrote how she watched the speeches with my nephew’s kindergarten class, and I shared “Bush has left the building” with my Facebook friends.
My friend Rhonda’s first Twitter account gave her location in the group – 6th row in front of the capital, blue rain coat. Her next posts shared how she had 10 new friends in the crowd, gave out extra granola bars to people she didn’t know, and how it was to be there in that magical moment.
In the evening I watched another magical moment, as Beyonce beautifully sang “At Last” to the First Couple on their first dance. From across the room filled with well wishers and celebrants, a megastar sang a song of passion and rejoice to the new President and his wife. That scene was something directly out of the movies – the kind of movie we discount as impossible.
This morning is just like any other. The news is summarizing the events of yesterday into 30 second segments totally missing the real essence of the day before. The world had gathered in a single day of peace and joy and rejoice. The majority of the nation celebrated the end of awful politics and the beginning of a new era for itself. My coworkers and friends joined together in a day of optimism as technology brought us together.
What do I do today? How do I continue for the next 1459 days? What happens when my hero fails me (Even Superman failed Lois Lane at least once)?
It’s a daily exercise to recommit to intention, to hold the responsibility of making my choices, to be accountable to my own needs, and to be a giving member of society. And as Dr. Lowery asked the lord to help us make, my choices today will be on the side of love. That is how I will live for today.
With Love,
Joseph Lyons