President's Day is for Prayer

I read not long ago that one of the most profitable times in the automotive retail industry is President's Day weekend. I'm not sure what the incentive is to buy a car in the middle of February, but if you've seen a paper in the last few days or watched any commercials on television, you have been encouraged to buy a variety of things at someone's "President's Day Sale." American retailers are good at packaging their goods in a holiday bundle, marked with a "sale" sign...as consumers, we buy it, literally, every time.

Perhaps as we approach this holiday weekend we might remember that there is more to these days than saving a few dollars. Perhaps as we reflect on Presidents Washington and Lincoln, men revered in our nation's history, we might also take time to pray for our current leaders...President Obama and the men and women of congress. These are challenging days for the president and congress...both have been much maligned as stalemates have marked most attempts at meaningful legislation. There are many opinions about why this is so. As often happens in political conflict, there is some truth mixed along with a fair amount of partisanism that makes progress painfully slow, and frustration among the electorate, very high. My opinions about the direction of these discussions is really insignificant here...some would agree with my point of view, and others disagree. However, perhaps I can call us to something that can be beneficial for all parties involved. Could it be that the best thing you and I could do for our president and the leaders of our nation is to pray for them? Some would think this suggestion too simple for the complexity of opinions and issues that divide our nation. I would argue that prayer is essential to gaining wisdom and that makes prayer absolutely essential for this time.

So, pay less attention to the sale ads for this President's Day weekend, and closer attention to prayer for our nation's leaders. They need that prayer, and you and I need to focus on the spirit of prayer that diminishes differences and encourages cooperation.

Jim Abernathy