Hope in the callused hands. . .

from President Elect Barack Obama on November 4th, 2008. . .

“The road ahead will be long. Our climb will be steep. We may not get there in one year, or even one term, but America — I have never been more hopeful than I am tonight that we will get there. I promise you: We as a people will get there.

There will be setbacks and false starts. There are many who won’t agree with every decision or policy I make as president, and we know that government can’t solve every problem. But I will always be honest with you about the challenges we face. I will listen to you, especially when we disagree. And, above all, I will ask you join in the work of remaking this nation the only way it’s been done in America for 221 years — block by block, brick by brick, callused hand by callused hand.

What began 21 months ago in the depths of winter must not end on this autumn night. This victory alone is not the change we seek — it is only the chance for us to make that change. And that cannot happen if we go back to the way things were. It cannot happen without you.

So let us summon a new spirit of patriotism; of service and responsibility where each of us resolves to pitch in and work harder and look after not only ourselves, but each other. Let us remember that if this financial crisis taught us anything, it’s that we cannot have a thriving Wall Street while Main Street suffers. In this country, we rise or fall as one nation — as one people.”

 

In my entire life, I have never felt patriotism or allegiance to any political party, president or person in any office.  In part from my generational characteristics and in part because of disillusionment and distrust, seeing over and over the abuse of power, the way money and greed and personal ambition drives so many of our politicians and world leaders.  Even now, I do not put all of my blind faithin one man. . . but I trust the calm presence in his demeanor and in his words.  I have full faith in his ability to inspire every one of us to initiate change- which is what creates nation and worldwide change after all- not one person sitting in the Oval Office.  I believe in the power of the people, not just of America, but of the world.  I believe in the change that has begun, the shift in consciousness and I believe that Barack Obamais a part of that sweeping change, someone who can succinctly put into words what needs to be accomplished, someone who can use his strength and resources as catalysts, and someone who can be the leader so many of us have never seen. 

The Obama family is not an oil family.  They know what it means to work.  They know what it means to feel the differences and simultaneously the similarities in all of us.  This I believe in. 

I believe in the peace I felt when waking up this morning, November 5th, and the very real shift that had occured energetically throughout our spinning sphere of precious materials- our home that is in grave danger and yet full of magical power and hope.  We belong to the earth, it’s where we came from and where we will all return to. . . and I believe that our future is no longer in the hands of anyone but each and every single one of us. 

I believe in the way this peace has been simmering inside me and propelled me to act upon things in my own small corner of the world. . . because in changing my life, the world is changed as well.  A tapestry is made of millions of tiny threads. . . light and dark, thick and thin, and I’m doing my part “holding together my corner of the warp and woof of space and time” which, as Stephen Cope says “requires courage tenacity and heart”.  -Stephen Cope

In local changes, the question one tax was repealed and while this disappointed me greatly as Mainers overwhelmingly allowed themselves to be purchased by the highest bidder (in this case Pepsi and Coca-Cola) without regard for taking care of everyone,  I’m reminded of a quote “Health care comes from Self Care”. . . and therefore am choosing to focus my pathin that direction, offering my time and resources and a large part of my energy to pursuing the connections between mind, body and energy, along with everything encompassed by them.  In doing so, I am part of the change and rather than waste time lamenting what is now the past, we can move towards the future, keeping up with that inspiring swirl of energy, every one of us using our own callused hands to further the change. 

Yes, we can.

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