My heart was filled with joy and anticipation as I watched the inauguration of the first African-American President in United States history. Even though I did not vote for Barack Obama, I think his election is an event to celebrate.
Why? It is a great day because we have come so far as a nation in regards to breaking through our prejudices to forbid people, based upon the color of their skin, from rising to places of influence. I am so thankful to have witnessed this event with my own two eyes.
African-Americans have incredible potential to be great future leaders in America. There are two key components that can be major factors in their success as leaders. They are suffering and faith.
1 Peter 1:6-7 says, "6In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. 7These have come so that your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed."
It is interesting to note that the people who founded this nation had to endure suffering and possess faith. The suffering they experienced under a tyrannical form of government produced the resilience it took to start a new nation. It was their faith that assisted them when it seemed all odds were stacked against them.
Once they gained their liberty, and with it power, they faced the challenges of their success. Unfortunately, many of them used their freedom and leadership influence to put African-Americans in slavery. Positions of power always tempt the people who occupy them to use others for their own selfish gain.
It seems that the people of antiquity in our nation forgot their own suffering under harsh leadership. Also, it is obvious that they chose to ignore the teaching of the Bible while enslaving African-Americans. The very faith they relied on to fight for their inalienable rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness was put on the shelf for personal profit.
The challenge African-Americans will face in their new places of leadership will be the same challenge every group of people have faced since the beginning of time. It is the difficulty of remembering the keys to right leadership. If they never forget their suffering, and never lose their faith, they can leave a legacy of servant leadership to be admired and followed by future generations.
Let it be so...Lord!!!
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