A Hero's Journey: Barack Obama Goes To Washington
The Inauguration and Call to Service
Congratulations, America! Today, we got ourselves a new president!
Come on now, you have to admit, this is damned exciting! It's not every day you get to witness history being made. Today we did just that.
Barack Obama took the oath of office and became our 44th president today. In so doing, he crossed a threshold no African-American has ever crossed in our nation's long history. What a powerful symbol it is to have the first African-American ever to inhabit the White House, built in part by slaves, who quarried the stone, cut the timber and formed and fired the bricks used in its construction. Little did they ever dream they were building a home for a brother, 200 years down the road. No one could make up a story better than this!
Today, we began this new story, borne in the darkest of times, borne from the belly of fear and uncertainty. And that story, with President Obama as its mythic hero, has as its narrative, the theme that America can be renewed and live out the promise set forth by our founding fathers.
Speaking of Heroes
For those who've just joined us, it's important to know the context from which we're talking about in this discussion of The Hero. We're speaking from the mythic, archetypal context of The Hero's Journey. You can find more specific information about this subject in my last two blog postings on the Hero's Journey and the Dark Night of the Soul here and here.
In this archetypal context of the Hero's Journey, the story is never only about the Hero (or Heroine, as the case may be). He or she is a symbol of the collective's reach for wholeness. As such, the Hero is the outward manifestation of the collective impulse towards courageously fulfilling its destiny. Christopher Columbus took a Hero's Journey and discovered the New World. In so doing, he literally altered the way the world was viewed.
So it is within this mythic context that we consider the candidate for Hero, our 44th President of the United States. He has come not to save us, but to be a catalytic agent of change, wherein we all evolve in the direction of wholeness.
From the Oxford English Dictionary: to inaugurate
initiate, begin, start, commence, institute, launch, start off, get going, get underway, set in motion, get off the ground, establish, found, lay the foundations of; bring in, usher in, introduce; informal kick off, admit to office, install, instate, swear in; invest, ordain; crown, enthrone, declare open, unveil; dedicate, consecrate.
Whew! We did all that today. Are you tired yet? I hope not because we've barely begun.
Those who write about the epic journey of #44 may not see it through the lens of the hero archetype, but the heroic aspect of his story is unmistakable.
From New York Times columnist, Frank Rich:
Nearly three months after Election Day, it remains astonishing that the American people have entrusted the job to a young black man who seemed to come out of nowhere looking for that kind of work just as we most needed him.
"In no other country on earth is my story even possible," Obama is fond of saying. That is true, and that is what the country celebrates this week. But it is all the tragic American stories that came before him, some of them still playing out in chilly streets just blocks from the White House, that throw both his remarkable triumph and the huge challenge ahead of him into such heart-stopping relief.
Indeed! You don't have to be an Obama supporter to marvel at the why's and how's of his rapid ascendancy to the highest office in the land. Something is at work here, the likes of which we've not seen before.
The New American Story: Chapter One
The first chapter of this new story has been written and is already history: The Campaign & Subsequent Election, in Which the Hero Successfully Navigates the Treacherous Rapids Necessary to Become Leader of the Free World.
Chapter Two: A Call to Service
It's a humbled America that President Obama inherits, and perhaps that's a great place to begin the next chapter. The old agenda of dominate and control is slowly transforming, even as fighting continues in the world. It will take time for reality on the ground to catch up with the shift in consciousness that is taking place in the world, but it will. Consciousness precedes action.
The new consciousness is about partnership and inclusiveness and will require that we embrace the rest of the world as our partners on this ever-shrinking planet we share. Might does not always make right and small is not necessarily weak. So far in this century, rogue states and terrorist groups have caused as much chaos and violence in the world as nation-states. We've seen where the arrogance road leads. How about a dose of humility for a change? Now there's change we can believe in!
The world will continue to look to us as leaders, for when we're being true to our ideals, our task is to lead. That's who we are. But the times call for a new kind of leadership: Enlightened Leadership, Leader as Servant. Leader, who leads by example, guided by a compassionate vision for humanity.
Leader As Servant
Although the concept of servant leadership dates back thousands of years (Lao Tzu in 600 B.C. and Jesus both taught these principles) Robert Greenleaf, recognized as the modern father of servant leadership, described it in this manner:
"It begins with the natural feeling that one wants to serve, to serve first. Then conscious choice brings one to aspire to lead...The difference manifest itself in the care taken by the servant-first to make sure that other people's highest priority needs are being served. The best test, and difficult to administer, is: do those served grow as persons, do they grow while being served, become healthier, wiser, freer, more autonomous, more likely themselves to become servants?"
Serving is more than something one does. It's a way of being that leads to greatness.
Martin Luther King:
If you want to be important -- wonderful. If you want to be recognized -- wonderful. If you want to be great -- wonderful. But, recognize that he who is greatest among you shall be your servant. That's a new definition of greatness."
President Obama's Call To Service
In the spirit of Martin Luther King, our new president is calling us to public service. "As we honor that legacy, it's not a day just to pause and reflect, it's a day to act," Obama said. "I ask the American people to turn today's efforts into an ongoing commitment to enriching the lives of others in their communities, their cities, and their country."
What's one small step you could take today, right where you are, to make a difference with someone around you? Rosa Parks sat down and in so doing, changed her country. Martin Luther King shared his dream and in so doing, changed his country. Nelson Mandela forgave his captors and in so doing, changed his country. Barack Obama declared "Yes We Can" and inspired a whole new generation of Americans to believe that change is possible and in so doing, they voted to change their country.
If each of us is coming from: "How can I serve?" "How can I make a difference?" rather than What's in it for me?" imagine what kind of world we could create! Is it possible? Who are we to say it's not!
In honor of President Obama, and this historical day for America, I offer this video with an original song written by Nechesa Morgan. It's her way of answering the call to serve. Hers is a song of thanks and celebration, a visual reminder of the soul and the story of our country. It will soon be available on iTunes.
Congratulations, America! And congratulations, Mr. President!
Please share your thoughts and feelings about this historic event in the comment section below this post. How will you answer our new president's call to serve?
Please consider subscribing to the RSS feed so you'll automatically receive blog updates and thank you for being part of this reader community.
If you would like to contact me personally, I can be reached at judith@theraisinyears.com.
Loading comments…
Want to reply to a comment? Hint: Click "Reply" at the bottom of the comment; after being approved your comment will appear directly underneath the comment you replied to
Thank you so much for walking us through the Dark Night of the Soul and into the promiced land of The Hero. I always feel refreshed and awakened by the dept and tenderness of your posts.
Thank you for empowering us to find the Hero within ourselves,
Your Fan,
Eli Davidson
I'm starting Nursing school in two weeks. I want to have a useful skill to take with me to Haiti. That country bore a hole in my heart that needs to be filled.
Love all this talk about service. Wish the council members in my little city felt the vibe...
Dear ggfree,
Congratulations on choosing to go back to your country and make a difference. Nurses are so badly needed everywhere!
Here's more good news..... what if YOU get to be the person who spreads the "vibe" not only among the city council members, but with everyone you meet???? I say that's how it works. That's YOUR Hero's Journey!
Who's to say that you are not the one who gets to make that kind of difference in your country? No one assigns the role of hero, nor does the hero ask for permission. Find a need and fill it. And that's what you're about to do?
Do you think you're up to the task? You are, if you say so. I'll place my bets on you, ggfree. Stay in touch and let us know how it's going.
Many blessings on your journey,
Judith
wow, you inspire me!! wishing you the best of luck and blessings in your education and service endeavors. Arlyn
I pledge to my country that I will cook my husband a great dinner and a glass of his favored wine.
Dear dora_rice,
Just stop for a moment and ponder all that went into you being able to cook your husband a great dinner and serve his favorite wine.
It might sound corny, but really! While you're doing just that, be mindful of the growers who grew the food, the ranchers who raised the cattle, the fishermen who caught the fish, the vintners who grew the grapes and all the thousands of those who participated in some way to bring all that to the market place, those who stacked the shelves and the one who checked you out. All did their jobs and were in service to you, so that you could have a fabulous meal.
What a different world it would be if we could be mindful of the ones who served us so our lives could be "comfortable"! Then, how do you give back? It's never only about just our own comfort.
I realize you might have been making a different kind of statement with your comment. But being in service is not only about doing. It's about where we come from in the doing.
Enjoy that great meal, and while you're at it, maybe you could give a note of thanks to those who made it possible.
Blessings,
Judith
Hi Judith! =)
I want to share with you my current service project, which I launched on YouTube and MySpace on 12/25/08. It's a Vlog series called "Arlyn Royce Was Here" in which I speak on a wide range of my personal life experiences, with the intention of helping others out there with similar challenges. It's a non-profit endeavor that I'm staying committed to, because it has already been helping viewers. In the midst of tests I feel grateful to be able to make lemonade out of lemons and am empowering others to do the same. I'm an Actress and R&B/Soul Singer. This is only the beginning of my making the most positive difference I can on my community, country and world....! I love my life.
http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=50737741
Here also are my HuffPost Oath of Office, requested by Arianna Huffington...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b2tEHSvHwlk
...and my Presidential Pledge of Service, requested by the awesome folks at MySpace.
http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=50806592
Dear arlynroyce,
I watched one of your videos just now. You go, woman! I love the "I'm going to do it anyway" spirit!
Indeed, we can always find 1000 reasons why NOT to follow our dreams. Think of all the reasons why Barack Obama could have chosen not to run for president. But he did it anyway.
I love that theme and will incorporate it into future posts.
Thanks so much for stopping by and please come back!
Doing in anyway,
Judith
oops, I meant doing "it" anyway!
AAAHH! Doing it anyway! You totally just made my day, thanks Judith. Peace to you! =)
See Russell Bishop's Profile
Hi Judith:
I absolutley love reading your posts. They help awaken on so many levels. Even more wonderful is the dialogue that is emerging between you, the readers and other contributors. Indeed, the vision is coming alive! Thanks for being such an inspiration to so many.
Blessings to you!
I also love that you actually respond to these posts.
I would like to make one more additional point, before I go. On President Obama's first day (I still love saying that "President" thing) http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/01/21/obama-freezes-salaries-of_n_159739.html he swore in members of his staff. He made some remarks at that ceremony that tell us a little about his mindset, remarks that were as important as anything he said in his inauguration speech.
"However long we are keepers of the public trust we should never forget that we are here as public servants and public service is a privilege. It's not about advantaging yourself. It's not about advancing your friends or your corporate clients. It's not about advancing an ideological agenda or the special interests of any organization. Public service is, simply and absolutely, about advancing the interests of Americans. "
I have to say, that gave me chills and jumped out at me. I hope he really means this.
Dear That One,
It almost seems too good to be true, doesn't It? That someone could come along on the national scene and actually embody the highest ideals our founding fathers framed into the constitution.
Every politician mouths the words and then goes about their "real" agenda. We've become cynical about their motives, because inevitably, we've always felt betrayed by them in the end.
When Oprah first came out for Obama, she said he was "the real deal". I do believe that he authentically intends what he says, as you shared in your comment. Look around. The feeling of renewal is palpable!
And I do want to include a note of thanks to none other than George Bush. I've been critical of him from the beginning. I might do a Hero's Journey piece on him to contrast the routes taken and end result. BUT...... he also served us to be where we are in this moment.
I think things had to get as bad as they did under his watch in order for the American people to be willing to put their trust in an inexperienced black man, relatively unknown on the national scene. As in "how much worse could it get? We can only go up from here", kind of thinking.
However we got here, like you, I'm jubilant! Now, let's do our part to insure this great beginning has strong legs to carry us forward.
As always, I do appreciate your contributions here.
All the best,
Judith
Well it helps that "O" was a constitutional law professor. He probably knows that document inside and out, more than a whole lot of us have forgotten.
I have to admit, I wasn't always a believer. In fact, I was a flat-out skeptic.
"He's just another politician. They all say these things. They promise us the world but then nothing happens to make our lives better. Why should this time be any different?" But now I'm feeling it all. Something definitely seems to be different this time.
I agree on the spirit of renewal taking place in this country. The crowds in frozen Washington had to warm your heart. And locally, there's been more eye contact between strangers (I noticed this since the election), and also strangers of different ethnicities. You can make the argument that this country is more unified now than it has been at least since the aftermath of 9/11.
Several posts by Huffpost bloggers have touched on George W. Bush's role in the election. I can't find them all, especially the specific article I'm looking for, but I'll point this one out, and you can do a Google search for the rest. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/blake-fleetwood/thank-you-george-bush-for_b_159354.html
I'll say this for Bush, other than the snafu with Blair House, he (and Laura) were incredibly gracious during the transition. Their staff cooperated with the Obama staff to make sure the transition of power was smooth.
Dr. Rich, I love this series on the hero's journey. As I've said before, I have a background in classical mythology, so a lot of the imagery is very familiar to me.
President Obama (god I LOVE saying that!) is the first political leader in my lifetime I actually TRUST (keep in mind, I'm 32). And the thing is, he wants us to trust him, sure, but he also wants us to trust OURSELVES. What a monumental shift.
There were 2 million people out on the National Mall Tuesday, and there was not a single arrest! I find that statistic as remarkable as the pomp and pageantry of the event itself. Clearly, my mother (an older AA woman in her late 60s) says, something much bigger is at work. My mother will go as far as to say the President was sent on this mission by a higher power.
His campaign slogan was "yes we can," but signs on his campaign signs read "change we can believe in" and "change we need." What was meant exactly by "change" he deliberately left ambiguous, and different people have filled in those blanks over time. However, one thing appears to be clear. The change he (and we) seek is of policy, sure, and the politics used to craft that policy in Washington, but it also could very well be a change in our collective consciousness and our culture. He appears to be precisely the right man for this time.
Dear ImWithThatOne,
Thanks for your comment and I'm glad to hear you're enjoying the series. I intend to write more, so please stay tuned!
Also, see my response to your other comment above.
Best,
Judith
See Ed and Deb Shapiro's Profile
Judith I would like to bring awareness to the comment from
Lewes17266- Oh me oh my, I hope we have seen an end to the misuse of religion for enlarging
SINS
and turning them into political issues, a reason to hate, a reason to vote for one over another.
With respect and in humour my definition of SIN is:
S- self
I- inflicted
N-nonsense
Lovingly,
Ed
That's great, Ed! I love it.
I'd like to hear how Lewes 17266 defines it. Lewes, are you listening?
Let's hear from you. What's your definition of SIN?
And it's interesting the various threads that spin off out of these conversations. Like, how did we get HERE?
Judith
It is nice that you respond to our comments. I learn as much from commentary as I do from the essays.
I guess I think of SIN as a condition of the heart, a misdeed done with evil intent.
Ed, Self Inflicted Nonsense is good! I am sad that some people live in self-condemnation and guilt because of wrong teaching. It is sad that many people feel judged, unloved, unwelcome, disapproved of by so-called Christians who are just soo righteous and just soo prideful and just soo mean.
I am personally troubled by the Religious Right's emphasis on certain SINS and the way those SINS have been enlarged and made into political issues. The Religious Right's lack of compassion and love simply dumbfounds me. Some are actually hateful and you know who I am talking about. Out of the same mouths they claim to know Christ, then spew hateful rhetoric toward anyone who does not agree with their views. After all, Christ actually was kind toward sinners and harsh toward hypocrites.
Just looking at the staggering amount of trash that was left behind on the National Mall yesterday by people who could not bother to worry about what they were trashing away for someone else to deal with. Looks like they really took that personal responsibility message seriously!
Interesting observation, pc51,
Seems like a gigantic missed opportunity for the people to begin right there on the spot. Obviously, much more work is needed to have people "get it". Responsibility is everyone's job.
I love how President Obama framed it in his speech. " Responsibility is not something we carry like a burden, but rather something we seize gladly." Now THAT's a major shift in the way to think about and hold responsibility and the one that needs to happen now.
Be the one who points the way,
Judith
It's really cool that you respond to the posts! I like that.
See Dr. Cara Barker's Profile
It has begun. You are so right, Judith. Together, we are wise to fasten our seatbelts for the road we have embarked upon, because one thing is certain: on the Hero's Journey, nothing is certain save the outline. Even that is little comfort when on shifting ground.
On Monday when I snuck out between clients to do my own service gig, picking up debris in an elementary school in Seattle in a very rough neighborhood, I was reminded that if we wait for "a big enough Call," we will miss what is before us. The fact of the Hero's Journey, so often unseen, is that the Hero must stumble around at different places in order to find the unseen, unrealized answer that can save the day.
I say, let's each be willing to 'stumble along' when required, yet not use this for an excuse to quit. You and I have certainly seen this over the years, haven't we? Many periods of being in the Dark of the Unknown. What a blessing it has been to walk side by side for upwards of 34 years together!
Much love and gratitude to you,
Cara
I started this - http://trygivingback.blogspot.com
Excellent! I love that you created a vehicle to encourage others to give. I experience that people desperately want to make a difference with others. Many times, they just need some guidance, or to be asked, or gently nudged.
Thanks for your contribution!
Love,
Judith
I serve the community everyday, happens to be how I earn a living.
Dear pokemon,
Thank you for your service. What do you do for a living?
Maybe you could also consider serving beyond what you do to get paid for. Not to diminish what you already do in any way, but the idea of "selfless service" is one where there's nothing in it for you except the joy of making a difference.
My job is also to serve and I feel so fortunate to get to do the kind of work that gives pretty instant feedback as to whether or not I've made a difference. But it is something else again to offer something and expect nothing in return.
Let's have a bigger conversation about what it means to serve.
Best,
Judith
To continue. To do community service, pick something you like, visit in a nursing home, help at a food shelf program, deliver meals, homes for the habitat. I have found concentrating on things you are good at is the easiest, I visit nursing homes and hospitals with 2 therapy dogs(I'm good at talking LOL) and do search and rescue with 2 other dogs. The rewards of service in your community far outway the output.
Fabulous!
I know what a difference dogs make for elderly people in nursing homes. Many years ago, one of my 4 dogs spent some time as a resident in one, just being there to give and receive love from everyone. She'd walk from room to room to "make her rounds". The only problem was, everyone saved food from their meals to give her little treats and she gained so much weight, I had to bring her home to put her on a diet and get the weight off.
Thanks for carrying this spirit of service into so many places where love is needed.
Love and blessings,
Judith
See Ed and Deb Shapiro's Profile
Hi Judith, I am so happy that a soft, yet strong, elegant, intelligent, cool dude is our Prez. Michele is gorgeous in and out and the girls are precious darlings.
May we move forward with dignity. Americans will travel the world and will be received with respect.
Oh happy day,
Ed
Amen and hallelujah! I couldn't agree with you more. I am so proud of our new first family. What beautiful spirits they are!
And what a wonderful ambassador of this new spirit of America you are!
Oh happy day indeed,
Judith
I was raised to do community service by parents who instilled in all of us children that to be a good citizen is to give back. I have continued in that vane for many yrs and will continue in the future and I, for one, am glad that we have a leader who believes in community service!!!!
Yes!
It was so evident on Monday when we went out to do community service on MLK day. I went to a senior center and helped clean up the gardens there. There were about 100 people, young, old, black and white, families with young children. Parents like yours instilling the value of giving back....
You are fortunate to already have this value as part of your history.
Thank you so much for being the contribution. Pass it on!
Blessings,
Judith
You must be logged in to comment. Log in or connect with
