It's electric in this little gym in South Bend. The school's colors, green and yellow, are splashed across the walls + clash with Democratic/Barack blue. Blue's a good color for a power suit, the analysts say. He looks good in blue, doesn't he?
5,000 people of all hues are crammed in here like cattle. Black + white, old + young, + a lotta downtrodden middle-class types. + a poor seminarian with lots of student loans. Some of us don't even like each other, would never look @ or greet each other outside of this gym. But we chant "O-BA-MA" (emphasis on the middle syllable) + smile + cheer + do the "wave." United for one hour.
5,000 people of all hues are crammed in here like cattle. Black + white, old + young, + a lotta downtrodden middle-class types. + a poor seminarian with lots of student loans. Some of us don't even like each other, would never look @ or greet each other outside of this gym. But we chant "O-BA-MA" (emphasis on the middle syllable) + smile + cheer + do the "wave." United for one hour.
In that frozen moment, I look around that sea of voices + realize the power of a promise…for change, for hope, for unity. The power of words.
But when he's done talking, we'll push our way out of that place + break back up into our cliques, white + black + pacific islander + other. The people we're comfortable with.
This happens every four years. The same feelings of hope. Another politician comes thru town. People come + cheer. He wins or loses. He keeps some promises, breaks others. Lather. Rinse. Repeat.
Sorry if I sound jaded. But it might be because all I've known about politicians are little soundbytes. + those scripted TV speeches enhanced with makeup + teleprompters.
Still there I was, waiting in line for 3 hours to see the politician. I ended up talking w/ this older guy. Short, with graying hair (about my dad's age) + a trucking cap on his head. Name's Lenny. He was a lil' kid when his parents took him to an RFK rally right here in Indiana, the week before he was assassinated. He's all smiles but when I tell him what I'm studying, he frowns.
"Religion's always just been a bunch of rituals to me. But hey, whatever floats your boat. Whatever makes you feel good about yourself…that's success. I'm glad you've found something you enjoy doing."
Raised Catholic, married to a secular Jew + now he's agnostic.
He thought he'd met Jesus. Didn't like what he heard. All sermons, no action. All rules, no relevance. + at the very bottom of Lenny's wastebasket, you'll find Jesus along w/ Bush, Nixon, and all the other dead or good-as-dead presidents. + in 4 years, maybe Obama will join 'em.
But I'll bet if you went to Chicago's grimy South Side + talked w/ moms in the Altgeld Gardens projects who Obama helped to find housing after the steel plants shut down in the 80's. or the amputees in the Cook County Hospital who were able to receive benefits denied by the hospital, because Barack fought them in court. + they'd have something to tell you. They'd let you know that this man isn't just about words, or empty promises, or smooth political sayings. They'd give you an experience. With someone they know + trust as a friend.
If I talked w/ them, maybe I'd change my mind--that all politicians are the same. Despite all the terrible experiences I've had before, maybe this amputee waving his arm(s) so emphatically, would make me think twice about Barack Obama
I wonder, maybe the reason why Christianity is so dead today is because to most Christians, Christ is just another dead president. Another politician who said inspiring stuff + did miracles + died 2,000 years ago. Not a Person who is alive + speaking + inspiring + touching lives today.
If people like Lenny are confused about who Jesus is...maybe it's because people like me haven't really had a true encounter w/ the Politician.
Have you met Jesus of Nazareth? Not just a theory or doctrine about him. Or what you hear from CNN. Or even me. If you wanna know the real Politician, you gotta meet Him for yourself.
Turning around, Jesus saw them following and asked, "What do you want?" They said, "Teacher, where are you staying?"
"Come," he replied, "and you will see." So they went and saw where he was staying, and spent that day with him. (John 1:37-39)
"Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name." (John 20:30, 31)
