Today The Work Begins

Today the real work of change begins.

Informed and inspired by my training at the Industrial Areas Foundation (founded by Saul Alinky) I became an organizer. Young and eager, I set out to empower others to right wrongs and build community. It was a glorious, if humbling, career full of Iron Rules (Never do for others what they can do for themselves.) and the hope that we were "the wind beneath your wings" when we encouraged, taught and moved others to action.

So, years later, no less committed, no less hopeful, but infinitely more aware...here is what I know:

Strong winds are hard to sustain, producing a less than steady climb - but a climb nevertheless.

There is no finish line. This is life, not a novel. Individually the only finish line is death. Collectively, we must learn and relearn truths, gain and regain progress, form and reform relationships.

No indiviual effort makes the critical difference, but all efforts are necessary to succeed.

We may become tired, discouraged and convinced of failure - but fortunately we won't all be there at the same time.

Sometimes we will be elated and hopeful beyond reason. That's OK too.

Occassionally, we will think before we act. Mostly that will end well and mostly we will be forgiven.

What we must always do is honor the humanity and the common cause of a diverse people; giving respect and never mistaking discord for destruction, yet hewing to our vision and values.

The work of change does not really begin today, it continues today. But it continues with greater hope, wider recognition and a new generation of believers.

Inauguration...for my Grandchildren

I return to blogging after a long hiatus while I made my minuscule contribution to today's Presidential Inauguration. And it is with that subject I shall start.

Like millions of others, I was inspired, awed, elated and hopeful as I watched history being made in such dramatic and conclusive fashion. Yes, I hung on every word and image. One great gift of retirement is that a person can experience, at least electronically, the world and it's occasions as they happen. Today was my indulgence in a panoply of moments that hold the hope of a better world for all.

However, I am struck buy a singular thought relative to my age. Having lived through more than one "historical moment" I find that today is different in an important way.

I saw Kennedy, King and Kennedy taken from us. And then, like many younger Americans, I witnessed the horror of 9/11. All these moments in history were ones that fit the "I remember where I was when..." significance. But all the previous memorable historic moments in my lifetime were ones filled with sadness, anger, despair and a loss of faith.

And then there is today. With the possible exception of the moon landing, no other public event in my lifetime has provided the sense of hope, of being on the right path at the right time, of being called on for the best in each of us, of community and peace and justice forthcoming by the sweat of our own brow.

Like many, my life has been filled with private moments of hope and reward, love and laud, glories of the past and gifts of future. Public hope is much harder to come by and takes a common vision made whole by both symbols and action. President Obama today was our symbol. We all must be the action.