Can America Inspire the World? Yes, We Can!

Well. America, you did it! You stood in lines and you voted. Praise the Lord for His many blessings. Now we must pray for Obama and Biden and we must pray for our country. As Rev. Bishop T.D. Jakes said on national television last night, "we must gird President-elect Obama with our prayers."

And we must do all we can to make the promises of this election and American reality. This was a team election and it will be a team presidency. We are all a part of this team. Our job is to pray and keep participating in American democracy.

The words of President-elect Obama said it best:" "If there is anyone out there who still doubts that America is a place where anything is possible; who still wonders if the dream of our founders is alive; who still questions the power of our democracy, tonight is your answer," said Obama. It's been a long time coming, but tonight, because of what we did on this day, on this election, in this defining moment, change is coming to America."

In his first speech as president-elect, Obama catalogued the challenges ahead. "The greatest of a lifetime," he said, "two wars, a planet in peril, the worst financial crisis in a century."

He added, "There are many who won't agree with every decision or policy I make as president, and we know that government can't solve every problem. But I will always be honest with you about the challenges we face."

He offered gracious words to his vanquished opponent, Sen. John McCain of Arizona.

"Sen. McCain fought long and hard in this campaign. He's fought even longer and harder for the country that he loves," Obama said. "We are better off for the service rendered by this brave and selfless leader."

Indeed, Senator John McCain had an eloquent, remarkable concession speech, sounding like the McCain of old. If he returns to being his own man, not controlled by Bush-Rove policos, to being the old maverick we admired, John McCain may be the key to some of Obama's successes, supporting the number of things that they actually agree upon.

There would be setbacks and false starts, Obama said. "I will always be honest about the challenges…I will listen, especially when we disagree”.

The task would be done as it always had in America, “block by block, brick by brick, calloused hand by calloused hand”.

Obama was clear that the work for strengthening America now begins. “This victory alone is not the change we seek,”he said, calling for a new spirit of sacrifice and a new spirit of service.

In a message to those “beyond our shores” Obama said that a new dawn of American leadership was at hand. He reaffirmed the values of freedom and justice and said that his message to those who wanted to tear down the world was “we will defeat you”.

Can we make good on this promise of change, America? YES WE CAN!