Here as the caves of my memory fade, I’ll hold to the first one

~Fleet Foxes (Drops in the River)

It has come to pass. In many ways, I can’t believe it. In others, I’m not surprised.

(Picture courtesy of Getty Images)

So many thoughts ran through my head while I witnessed the elation at Grant Park in Chicago last night and the impassioned, poignant and inspiring speech by President Elect Obama, where at least two of my friends stood watching. I received a call from my good friend Katie in DC where, at 12:45am, she was outside on a busy street celebrating, yelling and dancing with many of her fellow Americans. Another friend of mine has already purchased a plane ticket to DC for Obama’s inauguration on January 20th, 2009. Memories like those will last a lifetime.

Because my dad’s birthday fell on Election Day this year, I ended up at home last night. A quieter but still very meaningful celebration took place. I do not cry often, but I found myself tearing up (and dancing around) several times as I watched the coverage and considered the impact of such an evening.

In my life, there have been several memorable and historical moments, both negative and positive. I just saw the remnants of the Berlin Wall that fell when I was only five years old firsthand two months ago. I can tell you exactly where I was, what I was doing, what I was wearing and how I reacted to the news on that morning of September 11, 2001. What will I carry with me the rest of my life about yesterday? What will be impressed in your memory? What will we tell future generations about November 4, 2008?

Yet, simply a memory of a historically significant election is not why Obama ran or was elected. I think people are getting so caught up in the fact that racism got one huge slap in the face last night, that they may fail to realize that it is not obliterated, nor is slavery, sexism, persecution, and a whole host of other problems still sadly present in our world. In all of the excitement that the election of Obama brings to many in the world (and to me), I think it is important to realize that what he said last night is so very true:

“I know you didn’t do this just to win an election and I know you didn’t do it for me. You did it because you understand the enormity of the task that lies ahead. For even as we celebrate tonight, we know the challenges that tomorrow will bring are the greatest of our lifetime - two wars, a planet in peril, the worst financial crisis in a century. Even as we stand here tonight, we know there are brave Americans waking up in the deserts of Iraq and the mountains of Afghanistan to risk their lives for us. There are mothers and fathers who will lie awake after their children fall asleep and wonder how they’ll make the mortgage, or pay their doctors bills, or save enough for college. There is new energy to harness and new jobs to be created; new schools to build and threats to meet and alliances to repair.

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 its been done in America for two-hundred and twenty-one years - block by block, brick by brick, calloused hand by calloused hand.”

This will be an uphill battle for Barack and the country. Things will not go perfectly. I cannot believe that anyone, let alone TWO people, would volunteer to be president in such turbulent, unsure and, frankly, worrisome times. But, I am honored, inspired and hopeful that change will come in time because of our new President’s hard work, humility, encouragement and unmatched inspiration.

Let us remember, as so many of my wise friends have already penned in their blogs, that Christ was, is and always will be sovereign and our savior no matter who our Commander in Chief is. No woman or man can fill those shoes, and we should not expect them to. What is required of McCain and Obama supporters (and the rest of the country) alike is to stop the bashing, the regretting, the insinuations, the disrespect, the attacks, and learn how to voice and act on political opinion in a mature and useful manner while giving Barack Obama and his administration the opportunity and support to bring about change we need.

May we be as involved, interested and passionate in the coming four years as we were this last week.

And, read this beautifully written article.