CLARITY OF PURPOSE
The mighty hand of God swept across the United States of America on the historical day of March 23, 2010 as President Barack Obama’s hand signed into law the long-awaited Health Care Reform bill.
In jest we say “it would take an act of Congress” for things seemingly impossible to get done, but in this case I believe it was an act of God. Never in my lifetime have I seen so much divisiveness, animosity, cynicism, and deception exposed in the echelon of the highest-esteemed of this country. Politics is one thing but blatant misbehavior/misconduct is a horse of another color.
Respect for the office of the presidency seems to have flown out the window. Outbursts like “you lie” from a statesman during the presidents’ State of the Union address; misrepresentation; indiscreet media coverage and commentaries; revelations of personal failures among our leaders; incidents of demonstrators spitting on and slinging racial epithets at statesmen all seem to point to some dark evil hovering over Capitol Hill.
But the “clarity of purpose” – as Vice President Joseph Biden so eloquently stated – demonstrated by President Obama and his administration is a bright light to those of us who have been asking “can Washington get anything done?” All the back and forth; the hem and haw; and empty words have taken their toll on the American people. Lack of clarity and purpose in leadership has created so much indecision, despair, mistrust, and disenchantment among followers, and it’s manifesting directly and indirectly in many ways. Look at the rising trends of bribery, embezzlement, infidelity, lawlessness, suicide, – you name it; things are falling apart. Most of this can be attributed to lack of definitive and decisive leadership. Followers need sure role models and something to believe in and cause them to want to do the right thing. This goes for church, civic, and educational leadership as well; and lest we forget parental guidance (the hand that rocks the cradle).
Things are grey. It’s like a fog has rolled in and everyone is sort of drifting along. We seem to have moved away from the absolutes of dark or light; hot or cold; true or false; and right or wrong. We cannot afford to be lukewarm anymore. We cannot afford to sit on the fence any longer. For those of us who know the moral compass, it is our responsibility to move with purpose among those who don’t, and even those who seemingly don’t, but we know they do (which is probably the greater challenge).
In making good on his promise to bring into law health care reform, President Obama has demonstrated what can be achieved when we keep our eyes fixed on the goal and endure to the finish line. President Calvin Coolidge was quoted as saying:
“Nothing in the world will take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than the unsuccessful person with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. The slogan “press on!” has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race.”
~ Larry Buford, freelance writer
Residing in Los Angeles, CA
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