Ready for Change

“Few will have the greatness to bend history itself; but each of us can work to change a small portion of events, and in the total of all those acts will be written the history of this generation.”
- Robert Kennedy

After a couple of drafts that skirted the issue that I really wanted to talk about, I have decided to put my thoughts on the line and say what I really want to say.

My earliest memory was the death of John F. Kennedy. I remember I was downtown Chicago with my mother and people were standing on a street corner looking up at one of those signs that scrolled the news in lights. I remember standing with a bunch of stunned adults, on a cold, windy and grey Chicago day, I was 4 years old. Through the years I have written about the legacy of hope in my memories of John and Robert Kennedy. I have spoken of my desires for a world where we value hope and conversation over fear and violence. For the very first time in my life, since those early days of hope, I believe we are on the verge of real change.

I am ready.

I am ready for change in the way we talk to each other about the problems that face our country. I am ready to work with each other differently than we have before. I am ready to stand up for the earth and not be labeled as anti-economy. I am ready to address the real problems of our future like poverty, oppression and the effects of the corporatization on the resources and people of the world. I am ready to work to change a small portion of events that I can help change, I am ready to vote.

The act of faith that I view as having the biggest possible affect on life as I would like it to be is; I am going to walk into that polling place, ask for a paper ballot, I am going to exercise my democratic responsibility and I am going to vote for Barack Obama.

Let me tell you why. I don’t care that he doesn’t “have experience,” it is the ones with experience that have gotten in the mess that we are in. I want change. I want hope. I want something very different than what we have come to know.

It is amazing that I have spent this much time and money to prepare myself for ministry in order to do what I can to change the world and the world changing action I have chosen for this year is voting. You see, when you study theology there is some history of the world thrown in. We learn about the rise of recorded civilization and the beginnings of religion. We understand how institutions have shaped the world. We also learn how one person can have an affect on the course of history. To me, after spending some time studying this, I have come to the conclusion that this election truly is as consequential as it seems. There is just too much going on in the world of deep significance.

Four years ago, I named this blog “change2008.” I had grown disgusted with the politics in this country and I was pleading, begging and praying for change. In an excerpt from my first entry, I wrote, "I am thinking myself and would like to encourage any of you who are taking the time to read this to think about these questions. What can I do to get involved and change the level of political discussion in this country? How can I resist getting stuck fighting just about the issues (I don’t want us to totally give up the fight while we work on the bigger picture), and contribute to a principle/value-based progressive movement built on compromise, mutual benefit and a nondenominational spiritual connection with each other and our planet?"

Since then, much has happened in this country and I do believe that we are conscious of the need for change. But as I reflect on the word, I also reflect on how my concept of change has, well, changed. I think four years ago, I would have been happy for the anti-Bush, in fact, looking back on it, I think that was a little bit how I felt about John Kerry. But, I feel differently now. It not about just having someone different, it is about doing it differently.

Four years ago I said, “I don’t want us to totally give up the fight while we work on the bigger picture.” Quite frankly, I am tired of fighting. I want someone who is willing to talk. I want someone who is willing to think beyond surface politics. I want leaders who are willing to converse in the effort to build understanding and creative ideas. I want someone who is willing to consider not only the needs of America, but how addressing the needs of others in the world will help America be safer, healthier and not just a leader but a partner living up to its truest ideals.

We are now more aware than ever that we are truly interconnected and our connections are troubled. Our western way of life is leading to depleted resources and a wounded planet. This grand experiment of democracy is surviving with a damaged government.

People need help. The policies and laws concocted in Washington do matter. They do make a difference in our lives and if you don’t believe that ask the family of a loved one serving, killed or wounded in Iraq. Ask the parents of a school age child with too many benchmarks and not enough attention. Ask one of our neighbors losing their home to a greedy mortgage deal. Perhaps we should ask someone being sent to an overcrowded jail instead of receiving competent treatment for drug or alcohol addiction. The people we elect matter.

The spirit of the people needs a lift. The spirit of the people is ready to accomplish new and wonderful things. The spirit of the people need to see that that they, and not just the rich, are worthy of care and compassion.

There is a firm foothold in the mind of America that there is a deep need for change. And at this point, if this country elects a democrat, there will be a change in the presidency like we have never seen. But, to believe that any of these people alone are the answer to the problems we face would only be setting us up for disappointment. These are not perfect people. You don’t rise to this level of our political system by being perfect, but guess what; I don’t expect them to be.

We the people are becoming very engaged in this election but that engagement has to last beyond the voting booth. We are so close to this new path, this truly could be a change in direction, a movement of the spirit and a hope for a new path. “Few will have the greatness to bend history itself; but each of us can work to change a small portion of events, and in the total of all those acts will be written the history of this generation.” For our generation the time is now. I know that most of those who will read this will vote, but I think the time has come to vote for hope, for change, and I hope, for Barack Obama.