I don't think I was surprised at the outcome of the election - the Republicans had a very, very tough environment in which to campaign and the choice of Sarah Palin as a Vice Presidential candidate was spectacularly ill-conceived given the legacy that the party had to overcome.
What has surprised me, though, is the reaction of the rest of the world. It's interesting, isn't it, that Kenya has declared a national holiday? And Desmond Tutu comparing Obama's election to that of Nelson Mandela?
It does feel like an historic moment. My own personal hope - and one I pray sometimes out loud in worship services - is that America will now understand the effect that she has, willingly or unwillingly on the rest of the world. It's one thing to say 'The US government should serve the needs of US citizens first and not worry about others' but the fact is that when America is self-serving, it's the rest of the world that ends up beaten, bruised and poorer.
God bless America and pray for Obama's safety and for wise leadership.
