Why Our Family Went to the Inauguration

Our family made hotel reservations back in June to attend the Inauguration. It's hard to capture in words what it meant to be part of the inauguration of our first African American President. It wasn't necessarily easy. . .

• The crowds were beyond huge. (Think about it, there were 1.9 million people on the National Mall on Tuesday. There are only about 700,000 people living in Mecklenburg County. Imagine everyone in our county showing up downtown and bringing a friend along. . . !)
• The cold was bone chilling. After standing outside in 20-something degree weather for 12 hours, every muscle in my body ached, I couldn't feel my hands or feet, even our snacks were half frozen.
• While there were plenty of Porta Potties for the crowds, it didn't help because you couldn't squeeze through the crowd to get to them. (On the other hand, you were so cold, your systems were frozen so you really didn't need them all that much.)

But none of that really mattered. In the midst of this incredibly difficult time in our nation - in our world - the hope in the air was palpable. People were so friendly and helpful. One woman in the crowd was passing out free hand warmers; another was taking care of a stranger-turned-friend in a wheelchair; another offered a warm scarf to our son, Carey, to warm his frozen hands (Carey had gloves but they were in his pocket so he could text his friends. . .that's being 17!)

Why go to the inauguration?

• To remember my past growing up in Montgomery, Alabama with parents who embraced Rosa Parks and MLK as our heroes in a time when African Americans were not allowed to eat in local restaurants or drink from the same water fountains,
• To honor my mother, who worked for Civil Rights throughout the 60's, 70's, 80's and 90's in Montgomery, Alabama, and spoke out radically in our white church about racism and segregation,
• To inspire our children to create a world where, in the words of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., people look not at the color of someone's skin but at the content of his/her character.

Indeed, attending the Inauguration of President Barack Obama, our first African American President, was a pilgrimage that inspired me to live my faith more genuinely and to love people more deeply.

It began with the "We Are One" concert on Sunday afternoon at the National Mall. We stood at the feet of the Lincoln Memorial, cognizant of the symbolism of this 16th President who signed the emancipation proclamation in 1863, and on the day before the holiday celebrating Martin Luther King Jr's 80th birthday.

Obama's words stirred us:

". . . as I stand here today, what gives me the greatest hope of all. . .is you - Americans of every race and region and station who came here because you believe in what this country can be and because you want to help us get there. . . .(A) belief that if we could just recognize ourselves in one another and bring everyone together - Democrats, Republicans, independents; Latino, Asian and Native American; black and white, gay and straight, disabled and not - then not only would we restore hope and opportunity in places that yearned for both, but maybe, just maybe, we might perfect our union in the process.

The most moving moment of the concert for me was when 89-year-old folk singer, Pete Seeger, and Bruce Springsteen led the audience-turned-congregation in singing:

"This land is your land, this land is my land

From California to the New York Island

From the Redwood Forest to the Gulf Stream Waters

This land was made for you and me."

As I looked around at the crowd, tears flowed down my face at what I saw: thousands of people in every direction of every race and religion, size and station, all linked arm in arm and swaying as they sang. The crowd reminded me of the first song I learned in Sunday School, "red and yellow, black and white. . ." and I knew all of these people were precious in God's sight. This must be what the Kingdom of God looks like.

On Tuesday our family got up at 4:15am to catch the Metro at 5:15am to arrive at the Mall by 6:15am. In the cold and dark we made our way, along with a few other folks, to the closest JumboTron Screen on the National Mall. The sunrise over the Capital was beautiful. But even more beautiful was standing shoulder-to-shoulder with average Americans of all 50 states, united on this historic day. How incredible to be in a multitude of 1.9 million people and not one arrest or police incident.

Being part of the crowd was art (see "Goose Bumps" below) as we heard the overwhelming roar of the crowd when Obama arrived and yet the total quiet as he began to speak. Even in a crowd of almost 2 million people, you could hear a pin drop. And for those who were not in the crowd, you were there, too. Whether watching on television or listening on radio, reading it in the newspapers or online blogs, tivoing it to watch later or scanning your Blackberry for the latest news, you were there in the hopes of the day that we pray will sustain us through the fear in these times.

Obama's speech laid out the serious challenges we face as he exhorted us to choose hope over fear. He appealed to our ideals and courage, our service and sacrifice, our convictions and example. He reached out a hand to all in a time where we all need to learn how to reach out a hand to one another:

For we know that our patchwork heritage is a strength, not a weakness. We are a nation of Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus - and non- believers. We are shaped by every language and culture, drawn from every end of this Earth; and because we have tasted the bitter swill of civil war and segregation, and emerged from that dark chapter stronger and more united, we cannot help but believe that the old hatreds shall someday pass; that the lines of tribe shall soon dissolve; that as the world grows smaller, our common humanity shall reveal itself; and that America must play its role in ushering in a new era of peace.

As I stood on the Mall I thought about how much I love America. I love America with great pride and humility, knowing that it is only by the luck of the draw that I was born here. As I have traveled from Israel to Gaza, from Istanbul to Cambodia, I begin to understand the privilege - and the responsibility - for what it means to be "born in the USA." I love America enough to criticize her when I think we are wrong, believing we can be better and knowing the world needs our best. I love America enough to sacrifice for our ideals and serve in our community knowing our community needs our best. And having attended the inauguration of our first African American President, I am inspired to be more dedicated to build bridges across the richness of diversity in our queen city.

President Barack Obama took the oath of office on the steps of the Capital which, like the house in which he and his family will live, was built partially by slaves. May we not take this moment for granted; may we celebrate how far we have come even as we realize how far we still have to go; and may we determine to work together for "freedom and justice for all." I pray in the midst of these trying times that we will overcome our fear and suspicions to link arm in arm and work together for this land that belongs to you and me.