My tears started falling around 11:00 this morning. I was surprised at how touched I was by the pomp and ceremony surrounding the transition of political power in our country. The visuals were stunning. As soon as the clouds parted the Capitol Dome could not have been whiter against the blue sky. The flags unfurling and fluttering were pervasive. It was a proud moment for an American patriot.

Actually, the tears began last night when at sundown 400 lights illuminated the Reflecting Pool between the Washington Monument and the Lincoln Memorial. Each light represented 1000 American deaths to Covid-19 as of that moment. President Biden and Vice-President Harris both spoke simply and directly. More Americans have died from the Pandemic than American soldiers died in WW II. No one was being blamed; no truth was being withheld. It was simply and profoundly a moment to allow us to do what we should be doing – recognize the great sadness our nation has been suppressing – pay tribute to the lives that are no more.

I am so filled with hope. I am not naïve. I am sure there will be more political wrangling and machinations. It will not be easy (in the word of Joe Biden’s speech) “to end this uncivil war that pits red against blue, rural vs. urban, conservative vs. liberal.” But I believe “we can do this if we open our souls instead of hardening our hearts If we show a little tolerance and humility …”.

Those words are key for me. Tolerance implies that I am willing to consider other points of view. Humility is more complicated. For me it is about accepting both intellectually and emotionally that I am not the center of the universe. That there is a place for all of us in this wide wide land we call home.

But as the day ends and the smoke of the fireworks settles this I know. It is fragile. It is beautiful and it is hopeful, but it is tenuous. Quoting the Psalmist, President Biden reminded us: “Weeping may endure for the night, but joy comes in the morning.”  Today was a time for joy. We have set our tears aside for the moment. Tomorrow for sure will not have the magic of today. But this I hold on to. It is a faith statement. We can be decent again. We can solve problems again. We can be the dream we call America and wipe the tears of a country climbing out of mourning.