by Rev. Eric Folkerth

I've been dubious about The National Anthem and our flag, for several years now; having been previously stunned to learn the Anthem's racists verse (the ones we never sing…), and having been deeply impressed by the "Take a Knee" movement regarding the flag.

Generally, “civil religion” concerns me, even as I believe we people of faith should pay attention to the political realm. Further, if I was picking a “National Anthem,” I’d pick "America The Beautiful," or This Land Is Your Land.”

But, they didn’t ask me, of course.

So, when Lady Gaga sang the National Anthem yesterday, I wasn’t expecting to be moved deeply. (You always wonder: “Will they hit those high notes?”)

But in the midst of her performance during the inauguration yesterday, there was a moment that broke me open and sent me into heaving tears.

As Lady Gaga sang “…our flag was still there" —as her voice crescendoed upward— she turned and looked upward too, and gestured toward the actual flag flying over the actual Capitol Building.

And several thoughts raced through my head. First, to two weeks ago...

...as a *Confederate* flag waved through our Capitol Building

(for the first time in our history...)

...as insurrectionists tried to take *down* the American flag, and put up a Trump flag.

(I have now been reminded by others, the “Anthem” was actually written after the War of 1812, the *last* time our Capitol Building was invaded…)

But my thoughts also flashed to today...

...as Women, Blacks, and South Asian Americans are now forever folded in to the very heights of executive power for the first time in our history.

As this happened...as she sang that one line and made that gesture...I just lost it.

"My God...our flag is still there..." and...

"My God...it almost wasn't...." and...

"My God...that all REALLY HAPPENED, just two weeks ago…"

President Biden later said "Democracy has prevailed.”

Years from now --when we read those words-- we must never forget that "Democracy has prevailed" was no hollow rhetorical flourish.

This is literal truth. For a few horrific hours, two weeks ago, this was an open question.

But, Democracy has prevailed.

As tarnished as the legacy of our flag is --as genuinely dubious as the Anthem always will be-- that flag is more "our flag" today than it's ever been in the 200-plus year history of our nation. It “belongs” to more of us today than ever before.

But, thank God.

Democracy has prevailed.

And so, here is my prayer for President Biden as he takes office, as I have prayed for every President upon taking office:

Gracious God,

We pray for President Biden.

We pray he will use the wisdom gained in his long career, and the heartbreak gained by his life experience, to lead all Americans with equity, compassion, and true justice for all.

We pray that a sense of justice, fairness, and inclusion for the marginalized, will always be his north star guide.

We pray that he will model for us the desperately missing “better angels” of American character, and thereby inspire us all to find them again.

And at the end of his tenure —during a hopefully more normal future transition of power— we pray they let him ride that train safely back to Delaware.

Amen.

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