a reason to believe

“For we know that our patchwork heritage is a strength, not a weakness. We are a nation of Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus - and non-believers. We are shaped by every language and culture, drawn from every end of this Earth; and because we have tasted the bitter swill of civil war and segregation, and emerged from that dark chapter stronger and more united, we cannot help but believe that the old hatreds shall someday pass; that the lines of tribe shall soon dissolve; that as the world grows smaller, our common humanity shall reveal itself; and that America must play its role in ushering in a new era of peace.” Barack Hussein Obama, from his Inaugural Speech

The power of these particular lines continue to resonate with me. It is these lines that have been most marveled at between the four walls of my therapy room. Why?

With these words, Obama opened the door to an enormous group of Americans who have been not only disenfranchised, but have been rendered downright invisible. He included folks who’ve never been mentioned by an American president before, who were never included as a valid part of the whole. Up until now, every politician has had to distance themselves widely from these Americans, even if they were, in truth, solidly one of them. Our Christian-centric leaders have given lip service and a nod to other faiths as being part of the American tapestry, but never to those of no faith. Hearing the term “non-believers” used in such an inclusionary way was striking. It was a shift in the national consciousness.

As a Pagan, I don’t consider myself to be a“non-believer”. I could by no means be called “Godless”. We Pagans for the most part have more Gods than less. We even have countless Goddesses. And boy, do we believe in ALL kinds of things! I believe that spring follows the harshest winter, and that all matter matters. My spirituality is chock full of faith. However I find myself deeply reassured that Obama’s vision of America includes not only ALL faiths, but those who don’t have any faith. And, of course, in doing so, he is giving those of no faith, some faith. He is giving non-believers something to believe in.

These words got mused, mulled, and commented on a lot in the past week in my therapy room. We live in a time when growing up Catholic, Hindu, Jewish, Muslim, or Pagan doesn’t’ necessarily mean you will BE that as an adult. Many people are either searching for a spiritual system that fits their own personality, or cobbling one together out of several. Many of my clients under thirty-five were brought up by parents who had no spiritual practice or affiliation, who didn’t have the conviction to call themselves atheists, but had, for one reason or another, disavowed organized religion. This phrase “non-believers” catches and holds a lot of people who either firmly don’t believe in God, or don’t believe that there’s one system of faith that has all the answers. This past week, I was amazed at how many of my clients identified with that phrase and how important it was that it was named.

For many of the folks I work with, their spiritual quest rides not in embracing Gods of the Sky or a Goddess of the Earth, but in embracing the strength and sacredness of our common humanity. Obama’s words go far to legitimize this quest as valid and brings us closer to truly seeing each and every person as divine. Even those who don’t believe in divinity.

Thank the Gods for this new president! Or don’t. No matter, we all matter in this new era.