Excitemehesitrepidation

Yesterday was a big day for America. Yesterday millions watched as our 44th president was sworn in. It was really quite amazing. In my lifetime I have never seen this much excitement over an elected leader. Watching the fanfare, hearing the music, and listening to the speeches, I was inspired. I was moved. I was so darn proud. I was also a tiny bit frightened.

Did you see the mall? How many people were there? Quite a few. And across the country, how many people watched the coverage on TV or listened to the radio? Millions more. How much anticipation has been building for that very moment - and all these moments that are coming after? An unimagineable amount. I voted for Obama. I believe he has a fresh passion - perhaps a less corrupt passion - for this country. But I'm not blinded by infatuation. I hope he strives to make this country - and this world - a better place, but I know it won't always be easy. Things won't always go down the way I want them to.

Do all the people watching yesterday know that?

It comes with a lot of pressure, being the people's messiah. Whether he wanted to be or not, the scary thing is that with all the buzz, all the hype, all the anticipation... if this leader falls, will our faith in people ever recover?

It's not wise to put all your eggs in one basket (Grandma wisdom is always applicable). When we place all our hopes and dreams in one person we are setting ourselves up for disappointment. Even if Obama never does anything remotely questionable he still won't be perfect. He is just a man. A good man, we hope. A good man, I believe. But a man nonetheless.

I just hope we understand that.