President Obama Finds A Point Of Perspective
Published 3:55 pm Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Our nation's capital has more partisanship than it has pavement, and most of the city's paved.
Even with partisan positions being the biggest monument on the National Mall there was a rare moment last week that surely brought Republicans and Democrats together.
Or should have.
If just for a day.
While hosting his second consecutive Easter prayer breakfast, President Barack Obama, reports the Associated Press, said that “the agony of Jesus Christ through death and resurrection puts mere political struggle 'in perspective.'”
President Obama is a Christian and so his observations come as no surprise-unless to those nearly one in five Americans who don't believe he is a Christian-but they are worth recalling as the world leaves Easter in its rearview mirror and drives on into the myriad crises ahead.
“My plate has been full as well. The in-box keeps accumulating,” President Obama said. “But then comes Holy Week…As busy as we are, as many tasks as pile up, during this season, we are reminded that there is something about the resurrection…of Our Savior Jesus Christ that puts everything else in perspective.'”
The Associated Press wrote of President Obama recounting the story of “Christ's march to Calvary, the crucifixion and resurrection, the 'unfathomable grace' of taking on the sins of the world.
“This amazing grace calls me to reflect, and it calls me to pray,” said President Obama, adding that his daughters and his wife also help him keep things in perspective. “But nothing beats Scripture and the reminder of the Eternal.'”
Taking a moment to gather perspective benefits us all and crucifixion on a cross certainly does put partisan political battles, and everything else, into acute perspective. The world looks far different from Calvary.
Yes, of course there must be a separation of church and state but a separation of partisanship and state would benefit us all greatly, too. If we'd drop our nails and hammers we could try building something else.
-JKW-