Watching Americans mourn President George H. W. Bush briefly as people pay their respects as his body lay in state under the Capitol Rotunda was a deeply moving experience. I have walked through that Rotunda several times in recent years and was overwhelmed by the sheer amount of noise. Today, however, there was total silence, except for the footfalls of people of all shapes and sizes, colors and hues paying one last tribute to a visionary leader.
Certainly President Bush, as all of us, had his faults and his failures. Certainly, he had political enemies and many who disagreed with him on all sorts of policy issues and styles of governing. However, rarely has such a man graced our lives. His selfless dedication to the ideals on which our nation was founded, his unending commitment to his wife and family, and his unflinching stand against tyranny will long be remembered and honored.
Early this day I was enjoying breakfast with a friend. We were talking about the future of our community, our region, our state, our churches, and our nation. One question brimmed up several times as we chatted about the challenges in our community. Where are the visionary leaders who will step up and boldly lead?
Fifteen years ago I thought it would be me. Maybe I was, maybe I just thought I was. As I near retirement I am wondering, where are the visionaries who will lead us locally? Instead of simply accepting things as they are, where are those who will wonder what could be? Instead of settling for the gains of yesterday, where are those who are venturing into uncharted and unknown social and political realms?
May God raise up more men and women like President George H. W. Bush – people of unselfish dedication to the principles and ideals of our philosophy of government, people of unflinching dedication to the security and safety of all those who live around us, people of unending commitment to family, to God, and to giving of themselves for a healthier world!
WINSTON COMMUNITY BAPTIST CHURCH 