Our Little Bobblehead

Afternoon in the Rainforest

I just spent an hour w/ God in a rainforest.  Well, actually, I listened to a soundtrack of ambient rainforest sounds, but it felt so real, like I was in a real rainforest, not just sitting on my bed in suburban Pasadena.  There are ways that such sounds evoke nostalgic memories and feelings, washing away the actual surroundings and transporting me to a different place and time.  I was reminded of rainy days in Kaneohe, listening to the rain patter on the large glass windows in the home that I grew up in.  I smelt the scent of fresh rain in the air.  I felt like I was in a hut in the middle of a rainforest, or camping, just soaking in the sounds as the world was simplified to the natural, my awareness of creation heightened. 

I love time times like these.  It’s like an afternoon lying in the grass looking at the sky, at clouds, at trees from the bottom up, at how the sun and wind play through the leaves and branches above, drifting carelessly in and out of sleep without concern for time.  Like quietly taking in a sunset from a mountain campsite after a day of adventure and exploration.  Or like gazing up at a starry expanse on a evening somewhere far from civilization.  There’s something about such experiences that brings things back to the perspective of a big, awesome, wonderful Creator-God; that makes the worries, responsibilities ,and concerns of daily life not seem as big or important in the grand scheme of things; that restores my soul and brings me closer to how I feel like I was made to be.

Thank you, God, for such moments and for the gift of time, of nature, of memories, and of creation.

I was born, I was born to be with you
In this Space and Time,
after that, the Ever-After—I haven’t had a clue
only to break rhyme
such foolishness
leaves the heart black and blue

Only love, only love can leave such a mark
But only love, only love can heal such a scar

I was born, I was born to sing for you
I didn’t have a choice but to lift you up
And sing whatever song you wanted me to
I give you back my voice
From the womb my first cry, it was a joyful noise.

Only love, only love can leave such a mark
But only love, only love can heal such a scar

Justified till we die, you and I will magnify
The Magnificent
Magnificent

Only love, only love can leave such a mark
But only love, only love unites our hearts

Justified till we die, you and I will magnify
The Magnificent
Magnificent
Magnificent

We Have a New President-Elect

So it’s official.  Tonight, history was made as America elected Barak Obama as our 44^th President – the first African-American president of the USA.

Clara, Hussein and I watched the election coverage tonight, and right after 8pm PST, when the California polls closed, they announced that Obama had enough electoral votes for them to call the race.

McCain’s gave a very graceful, heartfelt concession speech, congratulating Obama and pointing out the historic nature of Obama’s accomplishment.  He acknowledged and accepted the fact that America had made it’s choice in a clear way, and he chose to speak in a way to promote unity as a country, as fellow Americans in a time of need.  He expressed pride in serving this country and that being in this long campaign has been the highest honor of his life.  He came across as a gentleman, a truly patriotic public servant, a man who knew how to accept defeat in an honorable way.  I was moved by his speech, and I was looking forward to see what Obama would say.

Obama took the stage later on in front of a large, jubilant crowd.  His campaign really was quite amazing, and there was indeed much to celebrate.  (Clara and Hussein were even taking pictures in front of the TV when they first posted a graphic of Obama with the words, “Obama – President-Elect”. J)  But as historic of a moment as this was, and as ready as his supporters seemed to be to explode in the triumph and exhilaration of victory, his speech seemed surprisingly normal, anti-climatic, non-victorious, and emotionally flat.  A commentator on ABC even noted that this was one of the least enthusiastic victory speeches he had heard in a while.  He didn’t really say straight out that he had won.  It felt like the crowd was just waiting for him to say something that they could really cheer about, a que to unleash the celebration, if you will, but it never really came.  Instead, the tone of his speech seemed to be more somber and serious, acknowledging the tough road ahead and the difficulty that America faces.  I’m glad he did express confidence that America will succeed in the difficult areas, but overall I felt like he had already mentally and maybe emotionally moved on beyond the victory, when it would have been appropriate to just enjoy and relish the moment – if not for him, then at least for his supporters who have toiled so long and hard for him to reach this point.

I guess I wanted to just see Obama cut loose and not be so serious, to enjoy himself and to celebrate.  It seemed he could barely manage a sustained smile.  Perhaps he was just tired, as he would naturally be.  Or perhaps he was already grappling with the reality of the enormous responsibility he had just been granted.  Or perhaps I’m just thinking too much about this…

My congratulations to President-Elect Obama and his staff for a hard-fought and well-deserved victory.  This is a historic moment in our country’s history, and no matter who we voted for, it is appropriate to acknowledge that fact.  America voted for change today, with Obama emerging as victorious.  And with that, the 2008 elections are finally over.  May God indeed bless America.