FATHERS DAY

Father's Day 2011 has come and gone.  I'm wondering if the president's family history makes that holiday hard for him.

President Obama married a strong woman and together they have steered their ship toward the harbor of a solid home.  Those little girls seem to adore their daddy and I'll bet he is a good daddy.

The cycle of brokenness seems to have stopped in the president's  generation, but still...those old heart holes must nag. 

An absent father-wound rips a huge anger portal.  His mother's absences and his moves from pillar-to-post must have been problematic.

As a teen, his grandparent's choice of mentors was unfortunate.  They turned him over to Frank Marshall Davis and it would be an understatement to say Mr. Davis was waaay off in the negative numbers for mentor-potential.

All the president's influencers taught him to see the world through eyes of radical strife.  Little Barry Soertoro carried a load that he had no control over.

                                                              But who would know that to look at him now?

Barack Obama has prospered in life and has been set in the highest place of authority and leadership.

President Obama has been in office two and a half years and has seen all the sparkly eye candy that the White House trappings afford.  He's been saluted and pampered; he has moved among people all over these United States.  Up until now, Americans have fawned over the man with great affection.  I just wonder if this is the country he thought it was?  Or that Michelle thought it was?

Have the president's experiences resulted in a philosophical watershed?  How could a person NOT understand our history after they have lived in a house full of precious artifacts?  Surely the documents from our framing have had an impact.  Has he searched the faces in those portraits of courageous men who led before him?  Does his heart stir when "Hail to the Chief" is played?  Has his view of black opportunity changed?  It would seem that all his mentor's advice about the white race...now has had to be rethought.

Until 2012 it is President Obama's charge to guard the liberties of ALL of us.  But as his change is instituted, our hope is draining.  People sense that our country is hanging by a thread.  Just as President Obama must have longed for a solid family, we long for a solid connection to liberty and justice for all.

Lately I've been convicted about not regularly praying for my president by name.  I am a Christian and my book calls me to pray for those in authority over me.  Since I disagree with his policies, my prayers in the past have gone something like this:  "Oh, Lord, HELP our country!"  But that is SO not the heart of prayer that He calls me to offer.  I never have prayed in depth for the man.

I never have said "Father, Barack Obama is made in Your image.  You loved him when he was a confused and isolated little boy and You love him now even as he sets his seat high.  Open his eyes, Lord.  Help him see that Your gospel has nothing to do with the black liberation theology that he espouses.  Show him how to bow to a real King and SERVE the people under him...just as he has promised he would.  Help him realize that the system he bucks is the same opportunity that gave him access to his office.  Lift his veil, Lord, and show him Your governance so he can turn and practice wise governance.

I pray for Barack Hussein Obama, Father.  I ask You to take him to the Damascus road.  And I make this prayer in Jesus' name."