Have another go Mr President.

Last Friday I was doing Pause for Thought on BBC Radio Wales.

UnliKe the Radio 2 things I sometimes do, this is not prerecorded so I have to able to speak clearly by 7:20 am. Not my favourite moment of the day. But anyway this is what I said:

Sometimes in a wedding ceremony the bride or groom may stumble over their vows. It’s understandable … they’re nervous … it’s a big occasion and everybody’s watching. That’s why so many couples choose the option of repeating what is said by the minister or priest.

But if, in the midst of the emotion, the happy couple fluff a line or two, I usually remind them that this what it’s like in marriage … mistakes will happen. I tell them that the Christian life is about giving one another second chances. Often I go on to share the story of when Jesus was asked by the disciples how many times someone should be forgiven: he answered them ‘seventy times seven’ … in others words, keep at it.

I thought of weddings like that and those challenging words of Jesus when Barack Obama hesitated over his presidential oath this week. Of course he knew the phrases off by heart, but on the auspicious day itself, he was charged with simply repeating the lines spoken by Chief Justice John Roberts. And it was the judge who got that one word out of sequence and caused the president to stumble.

So yesterday, they both were given a chance to put things right … the oath was sworn for a second time, with the Whitehouse claiming it was done out of an abundance of caution. Now he and others may feel that such prudence is warranted in the first week of the new job, but President Obama has also given every indication that his time in the Oval Office is going to see America return to being a nation of risk takers.

He knows he comes to office amidst gathering clouds and raging storms … unrest at America’s international reputation … doubt over its role in bringing peace to the Middle East and dissatisfaction at home over issues like the economy and health care. Barak Obama has a lot to do if he’s going to put some substance on the rhetoric for a changed America and a better world and if he is to answer the tremendous burden of expectation that rests upon him then this new President knows he going to have to make some bold decisions.

No doubt as he confronts these challenges, he and his government will sometimes hesitate to long, stumble over policies and even get things wrong … but I hope he can carry on as he has begun this week …
giving and receiving second chances …

I hope the waiting world will afford him that at least
And I hope the nation he now leads
will grant the same grace to us all.