Today in his inauguration speech, President Obama made the statement: "My fellow Americans, we are made for this moment, and we will seize it - so long as we seize it together." Obama is not the first to use the statement: "we are made for this moment." In a Christian setting the sentiment has often been associated with the biblical story of Esther. Esther was an orphaned Jewish girl took in and reared by Mordecai, a prominent Jew in a non-Jewish society. Esther found favor with the king and went on to become his wife.
Later, those jealous of Mordecai and the other Jews persuaded the king, who was unaware of Esther's Jewish background, to issue an edict that all the Jews should be killed. Mordecai sent word to Esther asking her to plead their case before the king, even though approaching the king without an invitation could have led to Esther's own execution. On Esther's hesitation Mordecai tells her: "who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?" Esther realizing she was indeed "made for this moment" went to the king and her intervention saved the Jews from destruction.
Whatever your political or religious persuasions, one thing is sure in my mind, that each of us was made for the moment in which we find ourselves. We have the choice whether to grasp that moment and step up to the plate, or to let it slip by.
As well as the inauguration of the US president, today is also the official Martin Luther King Jr day here in the USA. King is a powerful symbol in US history, and rightly revered by many. One of the things King often spoke about was those who remained silent when wrongs were being done. He once stated: “Not only will we have to repent for the sins of bad people; but we also
will have to repent for the appalling silence of good people.”
Some times we think that being an individual, we cannot make much of a difference. A few years ago living in the United Kingdom I was struck by an article I read. It was about an offensive advertisement that had been banned by the board of advertising there, after an unprecedented number of complaints had been received from the public. What struck me most was the number of complaints that had been received. Out of a country with a population of over 65 million, the number of complaint leading to this advertisement being withdrawn was a mere 750. It taught me a valuable lesson, that a few people standing up and being counted can make all the difference.
Obama talked about seizing the moment only if we all seize it together. For everyone to seize something together though is highly unlikely in the world in which we live. But for a small number who are prepared to stand up and dare to make a difference, nothing is impossible.
King also stated:
“We are now faced with the fact that tomorrow is today. We are confronted with the fierce urgency of now. In this unfolding conundrum of life and history, there "is" such a thing as being too late. This is no time for apathy or complacency. This is a time for vigorous and positive action.”
On this day celebrating a man who made a tremendous difference by standing up and daring to dream a dream, I hope we each can realize that we are made for this moment, that we will step forward, shake off the apathy and complacency that so often befalls us, and that we can make a difference in the world in which we live.
