In a time of economic downturn, general malaise and little hope, an African-American named Barack Hussein Obama was elected President of the United States. He is the first African-American or person of color ever to be elected President of the United States. And, he did this during a most difficult and challenging time.

The greatest thing that he shows all of us is that we should never give up, we should always be hopeful and we should reach out to all people in anything that we do.

The jury is out.

We don’t know what the future will bring, but most of us like what he has done so far. Jesus of Nazareth, son of God, began his public ministry with healing and teaching. He brought to the world a new kingdom, a kingdom that turned everything upside down.

He was and is God with us; he suffered and died for us, and we live in the knowledge of sure promises and in our baptismal covenant with him. We know what the future will bring. And, we can trust in what that future will be. It is this kingdom, not our secular world, that gives us hope and it is this kingdom, not our secular world that guides and supports us. It is for these reasons that we hold our heads up high, looking for the Spirit’s presence in guiding and shaping our direction and decisions.