Eight years ago, on the eve of Barack Obama’s inauguration as America’s 44th president, I was an obnoxiously-outspoken, right-wing, hardcore evangelical. And I was fearful of a liberal Democrat taking Office. I even compared him to the Antichrist. And I certainly thought I’d never vote for a Democrat.
Oh, how things have changed!
Today, I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t nervous about Donald Trump becoming my President. My values and political views are almost the exact opposite today in comparison to what they were eight years ago. So, obviously, I didn’t vote for Mr. Trump, and—like many of you— I’m not fond of what I’ve seen and heard so far.
However…
It’s easy to say that people never change; in fact, change IS hard. But I’ve learned to never say, Never. Do I think Mr. Trump is likely to change? To unite the divided United States? To be the kind of President that four years from now the majority of Americans will be proud of? No. I don’t think it’s likely.
But I won’t say it’s impossible.
Sometimes, life takes unexpected turns that cause us to change in drastic measures. Sometimes, we experience suffering so profound that we can’t help but become empathetic. Sometimes, we experience loss so deep that we can’t help but become grateful. Sometimes, we experience desperation so strong that we can’t help but become hopeful. Sometimes, we experience the claws of addiction so tight that we can’t help but fight for freedom. Sometimes, we experience injustice so incomprehensible that we can’t help but become merciful. Sometimes, we experience the weight of responsibility so heavy that we can’t help but learn to depend on one another.
So, on this eve of another Presidential inauguration, I remind myself that change is possible. Instead of being worried, I’m looking for the good. And even if nothing else changes, I know that I am capable of change. To quote Gandhi, I can “be the change [I] want to see in the world.”
