Realizing the role he might have to play in saving Middle Earth in J. R. R. Tolkien\u2019s \u2018Lord of the Rings\u2019 story, the hobbit Frodo shared his true feelings with the wise Gandalf: \u201c\u2019I wish it need not have happened in my time,\u2019 said Frodo. \u2018So do I,\u2019 said Gandalf, \u2018and so do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n
After many political defeats, Abraham Lincoln upset three candidates for his party\u2019s nomination whom most considered more qualified and able. The New York Herald wrote on May 19, 1860: \u201cThe conduct of the republican party in this nomination is a remarkable indication of small intellect, growing smaller. They pass over\u2026 statesmen and able men, and they take up a fourth rate lecturer, who cannot speak good grammar.\u201d<\/p>\n
Of course Lincoln became the 16th President of the United States and, like Frodo, found himself in perilous circumstances. He had to decide what to do with the time he had been given. I recently read Doris Kearns Goodwin\u2019s \u201cTeam of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln.\u201d Three strengths of Lincoln stood out to me.<\/p>\n
First, he held to his core beliefs that his country was built on solid foundations. Kearns wrote:\u00a0\u201cAn indomitable sense of purpose had sustained him through the disintegration of the Union and through the darkest moments of the war\u2026 His conviction that we are one nation, indivisible, \u2018conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal,\u2019 led to the rebirth of a nation free of slavery.\u201d<\/p>\n
Such a \u2018sense of purpose\u2019 led to a second strength essential for anyone facing difficult times. Abraham Lincoln persevered. Many forget the personal tragedies the Lincolns endured which greatly impacted Abraham and Mary. Son Eddie died of tuberculosis when he was three years old in 1850. And while the Civil War was raging, eleven-year-old Willie died of illness in 1862. Though he often despaired, Lincoln did not give up. Though there were many moments it looked as if the nation could not be saved, he persevered.<\/p>\n
A third strength highlighted in Kearns\u2019 book was Lincoln\u2019s willingness to listen to the thoughts and advice of others. Instead of distancing himself from his political rivals, Lincoln chose to place several who opposed him in positions of leadership for the good of the nation. The three men he defeated in the primaries became members of his cabinet. William Henry Seward was named Secretary of State; Salmon Chase was Secretary of the Treasury; and Edward Bates became Attorney General. Many questioned Lincoln\u2019s wisdom.<\/p>\n
But as it was proven, Lincoln was wise, perceptive, and decisive. He wanted to listen to others\u2019 views. If there was a better way, Lincoln possessed the humility to change. Assistant Secretary of War Charles Dana concluded: \u201cIt was always plain that he was master and they were the subordinates. They constantly had to yield to his will, and if he ever yielded to them it was because they convinced him that the course they advised was judicious and appropriate.\u201d<\/p>\n
Lincoln also respected the thoughts of the inexperienced. Two young men in their twenties, who happened to be good friends, became Lincoln\u2019s assistants during his presidency. John Nicolay and John Hay helped with correspondence, set schedules, and served their leader any way they could. Amidst numerous critics, these were men he could trust. Lincoln considered them as sons. After Lincoln’s assassination, Nicolay and Hay teamed up to write a ten volume biography entitled: \u2018Abraham Lincoln \u2014 A History.\u2019 With little doubt, John Hay concluded, \u201cthe \u2018hand of God\u2019 had put the prairie lawyer in the White House.\u201d<\/p>\n
In these times in which we live, a great leader\u2019s example can help us. I want to hold fast to the core beliefs that are true and full of hope: God is love and He is in control; abundant life is in His Son; Jesus will never leave me. I want to learn to persevere; I should never give up. Finally, I must be humble; I can listen and learn from others.<\/p>\n
Happy New Year!<\/p>\n
\u201cFor lack of guidance a nation falls, but victory is won through many advisers.\u201d Proverbs 11:14<\/p>\n
\u201cBlessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love Him.\u201d James 1:12<\/p>\n
\u201cBlessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.\u201d Matthew 5:3<\/p>\n
\u201cIn this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.\u201d John 16:33<\/p>\n
\u2018Fellowship of the Ring\u2019 by J. R. R. Tolkien, \u00a91954, Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston<\/em><\/p>\n \u2018Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln\u2019 by Doris Kearns Goodwin, \u00a92005 by Blithedale Productions, Inc., New York, NY 10020<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Realizing the role he might have to play in saving Middle Earth in J. R. R. Tolkien\u2019s \u2018Lord of the Rings\u2019 story, the hobbit Frodo shared his true feelings with the wise Gandalf: \u201c\u2019I wish it need not have happened in my time,\u2019 said Frodo. \u2018So do I,\u2019 said Gandalf, \u2018and so do all who […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[13],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3678","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-history"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/airwoof.org\/journey\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3678","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/airwoof.org\/journey\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/airwoof.org\/journey\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/airwoof.org\/journey\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/airwoof.org\/journey\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=3678"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/airwoof.org\/journey\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3678\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3682,"href":"https:\/\/airwoof.org\/journey\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3678\/revisions\/3682"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/airwoof.org\/journey\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=3678"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/airwoof.org\/journey\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=3678"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/airwoof.org\/journey\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=3678"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}