Rumor has it today that Barack Obama has approached Hillary Clinton to see if she would be interested in being appointed Secretary of State.  In my opinion, that is a great move on Obama's part, and I would like to see her accept the appointment.  Icing on the cake would be if Obama would approach General Colin Powell to see if he would like to become Secretary of Defense.   

          Some months back, early in the campaign, Michell Obama, First Lady-elect, commented something to the effect that for the first time in her life she was proud to be an American.  She received a lot of invective for the remark which, for the most part, was misunderstood.  But at the time I knew exactly what she meant and how she felt.  Having spent a good part of my life overseas, I tend to view America from an outsider's perspective.  And during the course of my lifetime, many people in the world at large had become disillusioned with America and I shared their feelings.  For them and for me, America had morphed into an imperialist nation, self-centered, arrogant, greedy and, in spite of all the good work of the civil rights activists of the 1960s, still too racist, if only subversively.  But Barack Obama's election has impressed the outside world mightily and restored some measure of their faith -- or at least home -- in America.  For much of the past 250 years America was not so much a place as an Idea, the city set upon a hill, where diversity and freedom were paramount and anything was possible for a person of audacity and perseverance.  Over the past half-century that Idea has been tarnished.  But now, for many, it seems to be renewed, and that is a very good thing.  From my Christian perspective, I would say that the Spirit of God has been at work in recent years, restoring to the American people the promise of liberty and justice for all.

          
           I stayed up last night to take in the election returns.  I am pleased Barack Obama won, but I certainly do not envy him for the challenge he has assumed.  It is going to be a difficult first term -- so difficult there may not be a second.  I appreciated the tone of his victory speech; it seemed quite Lincolnesque.  The most poignant moment of the evening for me was as I viewed the great crowd at Grant Park in Chicago.  The camera for just a moment zeroed in of Jesse Jackson, who stood weeping.  Jackson was at the side of Martin Luther King, Jr. when he was assassinated. When I heard the news of King's death I flew immediately to Atlanta, Georgia to particpate in the mammoth march from the center of town to Ebenezer Baptist Church for the funeral.  I'm quite sure that neither Jesse Jackson nor I ever imagined at the time the possibility that an African American would achieve the presidency in our lifetimes. That this has happened is truly transformational, irrespective of whether Senator Obama proves to be an effective leader or not.  One thing I know: Obama's election is sure to improve America's image as the land of freedom and opportunity for people throughout the world.  I think even the world's political leaders will sense a new and better beginning.
         

             My first missionary assignment was disciplemaking at the American Academy in Larnaca, Cyprus.  That was 56 years ago, and the grainy photo at far left shows the school as it was then.  The photo on the right (courtesy of Professor John Barbar of Valdosta State University in Georgia) shows the Academy as it is today on the occasion of its 100th anniversary.  Dr. Barbar, an Academy alumnus, was privileged to attend and sent me a glowing report.  One of those present on the occasion was Rev. Clark Copeland, a senior colleague of mine in 1952.  Clark, who was at least a dozen years older than I, is in his mid-nineties now.  He must be a very vigorous senior indeed to make the arduous journey from Geneva Falls, Pennsylvania to Larnaca, Cyprus.  I am hard pressed to make it from my bedroom to the kitchen in the morning.