I woke up this morning to my infant son smiling up at me from bed. He has a cold right now, and has multiple teeth pushing their way up through his gums so he is not at his happiest, yet he still smiles. I do not feel much like smiling today. My heart is heavy as President Obama (the first president I voted for who won the presidency) steps down from office as part of our country’s peaceful transition of power. He most certainly was my President. Did I agree with all of his policies? No. I wish he accomplished more, did more things he campaigned on. But I’m proud to call him my President.

President-Elect Trump, who will be taking the Oath of Office in the next hour or so, is not the person I want running the country for a myriad of reasons. But it’s our reality and I’m still trying to come to terms with it.
 
Luckily, today I’m spending our last full day of vacation with some of the best people in my life – friends from seminary. We mourn, but we cry together. We rage, but we rail together. In spite of Inauguration Day, we will find laughter and smiles today, because we are together. And moving forward with the next four years, we will resist together, because that is how our hope for the future, and for our kids’ futures, will remain steadfast.

I searched the Psalms this morning for a chapter that could summarize my feelings and help me through the day. I couldn’t really find exactly what I needed, because while I remain angry and sad, I also NEED to find hope. Psalm 121 was too optimistic, and the 22nd Psalm too bleak. I think I’m going to use a hybrid of the two.