Rita and I at the National Prayer Breakfast in Washington, DC.
What an experience it was to attend the National Prayer Breakfast. By now, the staff at the Hilton have long since cleared off the tables and stacked up the chairs. The event is over but hopefully, the impact will remain upon a few hearts. I know it will for Andrea Boccelli.
He was there to sing but he wanted to speak. The man, this amazingly talented man, who has stirred so many people through his music, was visibly and deeply moved. This will sound trite to the critic and overly simplistic to the sophisticated ear―He was moved to see political opponents praying together.
After requesting the microphone, he said that the political parties in Italy don’t speak to one another. Our praying people gave him hope. He is going home with a dream to bring national leaders together to pray. It was a humble moment and fitting because President Obama spoke on humility. His speech is worth reading (click here). At one moment, he reflected on President Lincoln’s troubled life. He said, “And we know that he surely found solace in Scripture; that he could acknowledge his own doubts, that he was humbled in the face of the Lord.”
Like Andrea Boccelli, I was moved to see men and women―so full of passion, belief, and contention―bowing their heads as one to the One. I left with a dream too. Laying aside political differences for a moment, it was good to hear Scripture verses spoken by our President. I want to hear more.
I want to hear Bible passages from Hebrews and Isaiah shared by more presidents and citizens alike. I want to hear the Word being shared in my heart language and in thousands of heart languages. I want to hear about more people being “humbled in the face of the Lord”―like Lincoln and Boccelli and Obama.
Why?
Because, as our President humbly acknowledged, this changes everything! Spread the Word. In doing so, you will spread hope.
“For as the waters fill the sea, the earth will be filled with an awareness of the glory of the Lord.” (Habakkuk 2:14)
History is littered with would-have-been success stories. Innovation without implementation results in a tragic waste of talent and resources. With respect to Bible translation, we have to press forward with an understanding of the urgency of the times we live in.
