Lincoln – Many Wanted Him to Fail

President Abraham Lincoln set his sights on what needed to be done, and he resolutely pursued that course. He was intensely hated by many in his day, but with the advantage of historical hindsight, all America is glad that he succeeded. Many hate our current president, but do some want him to fail? 
How did Lincoln go from being so deeply hated, to now having had one of America’s most imposing monuments built in his honor? He took us through our greatest national divide and preserved the Union.
Allow me to ask another question. Why do we take time out to celebrate national holidays? Is it merely to look backward, or is it also to help us see more clearly how to go forward? 
Well, we certainly are not as divided now as we were in the decades leading up to and including the Civil War, but neither can it be said that we are all singing from the same sheet of music. We find ourselves under great strain right now, and we are conflicted on what to do about it.
With insightful governance, the strain can be managed, and even focused in a positive direction. Without that understanding, the strain can deepen. 
Currently, our strains have become more acute, and the right path forward remains shrouded in a dense fog. Lincoln did not heal the national division in his lifetime, but he put the nation on a united path forward, a path that eventually led to unity. It is now time to pray for another Lincoln, a leader who can create in the American people a strong majority view of the proper path forward for us.
America’s new president is of the opinion that he can lead us back into prosperity by returning us to America’s traditional structure, based upon limiting government. We will see if he can. But as a friend of mine, Bob Jackson, said the other day, we all need to pray that he succeeds in leading us because our president is the pilot of our airplane – would anybody pray that he fail?
The Bible admonishes us to pray for our leaders. In doing so, we give thanks for President Lincoln as we celebrate his birthday Feb. 12. We also pray for divine assistance for all the new leaders in Washington, that they put the welfare of the American people first and foremost, and that they succeed.
President Lincoln was deeply hated, and then came to be revered. Is it possible that President Trump can turn deep disdain, even hatred, into broad-based appreciation? Let no one say no to that prospect.                   
Art Hall
From the Bible: And what does the Lord require of you, but to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God. Micah 6:8