Here lies a toppled God.
His fall was not a small one.
We did but build his pedestal,
A Narrow and a Tall one. — Frank Herbert
I recently watched the new Music Video by supporters of Barrack Obama, titled “An American Prayer”. Rev. Sean Dennison had commented on his blog that he saw within that video the “religious longing of the political left”. Perhaps.
Though the video tugged at my emotions as it was designed to, it also left me feeling more than a little disturbed. It deeply connected the promise of Dr. Martin Luther King with the present hopes and visions residing in Senator Barrack Obama. As it was concluding, a thought came into my mind. “What in the world are we going to do if something happens to him?”
Humanity does not tolerate Saviors, Messiahs, and Prophets, at least not for long. The projection of all of the hope, all of the dreams, all of the visions for the future focused upon the single life of a mortal human is one of the most destructive forces in human history. It is destructive internally to the individual, who has to rest, as a flawed human being, at the center of the projections of perfection being placed upon them. It is destructive to movements, in that it focuses the creative leadership of the whole into the person of the one. It is destructive of societies, in that when something happens to the Savior/Messiah/Prophet, (and it almost always does), there is no where for the energies they have brought forth to go. Sometimes those energies turn to violence, sometimes they turn to despondency and despair. Rarely do they have a productive outlet.
I am not speaking necessarily of someone trying to harm Senator Obama, and I pray that such a thing does not ever happen. It might, though… for the energies being manipulated in this campaign could easily produce that kind of violent backlash. However, we would face the same question if Senator Obama were to commit some kind of moral lapse, or make a decision contrary to the projections being placed upon him, or even be elected President and be unable to implement the kind of Change he is campaigning on.
Up to this point, I have not seen any signs of Barrack Obama accepting the kind of savior/messiah status that some appear to be offering him, and I thank God for that. It makes me respect him all the more. I hope that, like some Roman Emperors, there is someone whispering in his ear every day “You are only Mortal, You are only Mortal”. Perhaps his wife…
But what is concerning me is that whether or not he accepts these projections people are placing upon him, the projections are still being placed. I am concerned that as we liberals and progressives project our hopes and dreams upon this one flawed, mortal human, that we also seek to find ways to spread that projection to a movement larger than any individual. I hope that Senator Obama can transform this blossoming cult of personality into an actual movement for progressive change. I hope that the movement can outgrow, outshine, and if necessary outlast the man.
Martin Luther King did that. He brought together organizations and leaders to walk with him, and the movement was able to weather the storm brought on by his murder. Paul did it for Jesus of Nazareth, even if I believe that the version of Christianity that Paul taught was quite different than what Jesus would have had he lived.
So, for me it is not just an American Prayer, it is a Human Prayer…. Please God, let the movement be more than the man… And protect him… please protect him…
Yours in Faith,
David
ShareThis
