Not empty words

Over the last few months I have heard people say that Obama is just a great talker, a great orator - there is nothing to him other than a bunch of talk. But today, as I listen to this man speak about our country, I hear him teaching me my story. 

I hear him telling me who I am as an American.

 I hear him telling MY STORY. 

It was my great-grandfather who packed up everything he had into a small bag and crossed the Atlantic from Lebanon to come here to be the best and fullest human being he could be. It was my grandfather who taught me the values and dreams of his father and how those impact who we are and how we live. It was my grandfather who taught my mother to love God, others and country, who then taught me to love the same. It was my father who taught me to tell others that they are valued, that they are crucial and that together we can work for a better world. And it was his father, grandfather and so on that taught him these values. 

"We know that our patchwork heritage is a strength and not a weakness." - states Obama today. 

This is my family. This is my world. My world is one of patchwork. My family is blended. I am Arab, English, German and Scottish. I am a child of two parents who love through difficulties and joys, who know that family and love outweigh anger and frustration, selfishness is not a healthy value. It is these values, this hope and life and choices that change me. 

Today he has told me my story and he has challenged us to change the world. It is our responsibility to change the world. He challenged me, nay all of us, to truly take on the mantel of citizenship and change the world with lives lived on these values of American Citizenship - values of responsibility, equality, value, love and hope-filled freedom. 

Obama has reminded us who we are as Citizens of these United States. 

He isn't just saying empty words. No, he is not just saying empty words. 

He is challenging us to be the change we hope to see in this world. He is challenging us to truly, truly, TRULY live out these values of hope, virtue and equality. 

When we do truly LIVE these values we will be the beckon of hope we should be for the world. 

We can be a better people. These are not just empty words. 

Millions of people volunteered yesterday on the national day of service because it was the right thing to do as citizens. 

1000s of volunteers had to be turned away because there were too many. 

1000s who had never volunteered before but did because Obama challenged us to have now chosen to volunteer regularly.

These are not empty words. 

Can you be changed by words? If they speak to the true values and love of humanity. 

Can you change the world with words? If you trust that words express truth, self and justice and that words are greater than guns. 

When words are spoken with truth, especially with the truth of God and His love and value of humanity, they will impact and begin the change in the world.

God SPOKE the world into existence. The WORD became flesh and dealt among us. The WORD was with God and is God. Those are not empty words. The world was been challenged and changed by The Word and will always be challenged, changed and restored by His WORD. 

When words speak to the truth and wholeness of humanity things will change. 

"Our spirit is stronger and can out last you..." - says Obama to the terrorists who promise to destroy our world, our buildings our way of life. You can take away our things, but you cannot take away our values, our hearts, our souls and our spirit. 

These are not empty words. 

I will fulfill my challenge from God to be His glorious, loving Word in this world and I will take up the mantel of American Citizenship to live a life of peace and mercy. I will follow my call as a Citizen of the Kingdom to love justice, seek mercy and walk humbly with my God....

...say Amen? AMEN!