Merry Christmas from the Oval Office!
Haha! Just joking! This isn’t the real Oval Office in the White House. This is a replica of the Oval Office, in a Presidential Library which hubby and I had the privilege of visiting this past weekend.
The Oval Office surprised me, in that it wasn’t what I had expected.
I had always imagined the oval-shape of the room stretching out to the left & right on either side of the desk. However, the oval does not go to the left & right of the desk … but rather the desk is at one end of the oval, and the oval stretches toward the sofas, with the sofas & fireplace being on the other end.
Did you realize the oval went this direction?
This was a surprise for me.
I couldn’t help thinking what a beautiful picture this is of what we all would like our country to be. Not divided in half with the leader in the middle torn between the left & right. But rather the leader at the head, while at the other end are the sofas where we all sit down together with each other and have a conversation around a welcoming cozy fireplace. Isn’t this a beautiful picture!
As I stood in the replica of the Oval Office, one thing which really struck me is that the occupant of the Oval Office is just a normal person like me. We’re really not that much different. I have only ever seen the Oval Office in pictures/video from news reports (or in action/drama movies!) … so it has always seemed so glamorized!
But having the opportunity to sit behind the replica of the Resolute Desk, the reality of the “normalness” of the person who usually sits there really hit me!
What struck me in particular is that the power of the Oval Office is only given for a brief window of history. For a very brief window of time, power is granted. Then it is over. It is gone.
I couldn’t help thinking: just like the occupant of the Oval Office is given a very brief window of history, so also, we each are given a brief window of history as well. For a very brief window of time, power is granted to each of us. To be sure, the power granted us is probably “insignificant” in comparison. But nonetheless, we each have a certain degree of influence and power over those in our life.
The power of our words over our children or our spouse can cause them to soar and succeed; or it can crush and devastate them. The power of our actions toward others can encourage; or tear down.
Each of us, in our own life, have a “Resolute Desk” from which we make decisions. Decisions which shape our history … and the history of those around us.
In pondering my brief time behind the replica of the Resolute Desk I resolve the following:
* I resolve to not squander or waste my brief window of time which has been given to me.
* I resolve to steward wisely the “power” I have been given.
* I resolve to be faithful to work hard, each normal ordinary day.
* I resolve to be honest … and truthful.
* I resolve to be dependable … and trustworthy.
* I resolve to be kind … and peaceable.
* I resolve to pour love into the next generation.
* I resolve to build a legacy through each tiny word & deed, each normal ordinary day.
