The other day while riding home from dance class, the subject of Obama came up and Samuel shared some desultory comment along with a long sigh and the name said almost as an imprecation.
"What wrong with Obama?" I asked him.
"Well, you know," he answered rather defensively.
"No, I don't. Why don't you tell me."
"Obama wants to kill babies." Ah, at last, the problem. In this I could see his staunchly republican mother's hand at work.
I said, "Sometime people are very misled. They think that what they are doing is a good thing for everyone. But they have been deceived by Satan and see and think things that are not real."
"Like mirages. I know."
I continue, "Obama has not yet taken office. We may not judge him in these ways. Additionally, the office of the President (if not the man--although I didn't say this to Samuel) is worthy of respect. We must give him a chance."
"But he wants to kill babies." You can't deny the simple logic of that.
"Is that a reason to dislike him and say bad things about him? Isn't a more appropriate response to pray for him so that God might guide him and prevent some of the things he says he'll do?"
"Oh, yeah."
"So rather than saying bad things about him, what must we do with respect to the man who will become President Obama."
"We must pray for him."
"And what must we pray for in particular?"
"That he not be allowed to kill babies."
"Absolutely."
Isn't it amazing the way children catch on so quickly? I certainly have no great fondness for Obama, but then, neither had I for the other candidate, and I can't say that I'll be sorry to see the present President leave office. Nevertheless, the office of leadership deserves my respect, my loyalty, and above all my prayers for guidance, strength, and a willingness to speak out in truth at all costs. This last is not a commodity in abundance within the world of politics. I dread what Obama may do upon assuming office, but the truth of the matter is neither I nor anyone else knows for certain what this might be, and now is the time for prayer--to earnestly implore God to change the mind and heart of the man who will be the next leader of the United States. Given that his whims will be essentially unopposed, let us pray that they are more often breezes from Heaven rather than draughts from Hell.
