Joy in the Morning

The dawn of the new day in America actually came at dusk last night at the Reflection Pool flowing out from the Lincoln Memorial. The hundreds of lights that lined the pool to pay silent tribute to the 400 thousand Americans who died from the virus that has consumed the country. A few brief words from Joe Biden finally brought light and empathy that all of us longed for through this darkest of years. The comforting words of “Amazing Grace” sung by the young nurse from Detroit who has been treating Covid patients and trying to cheer and encourage her fellow health care workers as they tried to treat and comfort the dying. We were seeing a man who has suffered losses beyond words who understands what the country needs.

This Inauguration Day brought bright, brisk sunshine to a capital quickly recovered from a treacherous mob that could not, in the end, break us. It only made us stronger and more determined. The oldest man ever to be elected president would need all of his lifetime of experience to help us heal and lead us back to the country’s righteous path. Speaking to a field of thousands of flags and a small crowd, Biden reached out to what he called “our better angels”. He said, “This is democracy’s day, a day of history and hope, of renewal and resolve. Through the crucible for the ages, America has been tested anew.” He spoke of unity, of restoring, repairing, healing and reaching out to people who didn’t vote for him. But he understood the reality of America. “I know speaking of unity can sound to some like a foolish fantasy these days. I know that the forces that divide us are deep and they are real. But I know they are not new.”

Joe Biden is the last of a generation of leaders who will soon give way to a younger generation that will have their own challenges to preserve American democracy and the value of truth. Biden will try to bring back dignity and honor to a political discourse that  has been badly damaged to the point where family and friends hesitate to even discuss politics. A hallmark of Biden’s career has been to reach out to those who disagree with him and try to reach compromise. A word many now see as capitulation. If we don’t reason together, we will never accomplish anything and heal the wounds of hate. It will not be easy and there are no guarantees he and we will succeed in this restoration of America. We stand at a critical moment in our history. Biden called it a “time for boldness”. He quoted lyrics from his favorite song, “American Anthem”. “The work and prayers of centuries have brought us to this day. What shall be our legacy? What will our children say.” That’s the challenge for us all.

We all saw over the last four years how fragile this democracy can be when men put themselves and their thirst for power above the greater good. We saw it rampaging through the halls of the building Joe Biden stood before today. Biden promised to lead “not merely by the example of our power, but by the power of our example”, and hope for the future when he quoted the Bible, “Weep, ye may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.” Let’s hope this morning was the first of many.