Sherre Hirsch

I had the incredible fortune of providing commentary for ABCNews.com on the National Prayer Service. The keynote was Reverend Sharon Watkins, the General Minister and President of the Disciples of Christ. To put it mildly, her sermon rocked the Cathedral with that special mix of intimacy, wisdom, humor and humility. But it was her central metaphor that struck a chord within me.

In a portion of her sermon Reverend Watkins told a story -  attributed to the Cherokee tradition -  about the two wolves that struggle inside each one of us. “One wolf is vengefulness, anger, resentment, self-pity, fear…The other wolf is compassion, faithfulness, hope, truth, love…”
Then she looked directly at President Obama, who was sitting in the front pew, and said, “We need you to feed the good wolf within you, to listen to the better angels of your nature, and by your example encourage us to do the same.”
OMG. Reverend Watkins was talking Jewish. In Judaism, we understand within each one of us is a yetzer hara, an evil inclination and yetzer hatov, good inclination. Both are intrinsic and important to our nature. According to the rabbis, even the evil inclination  - when properly directed  - can enable us to “build houses, make love, feel passion.”  But Judaism commands us to keep it in check. To nourish that side of us that strives to do good. To regularly feed that part of us  - through service and ethical behavior.
Reverend Watkins, the Cherokees and the Jews are saying the same thing. Ethical behavior is practiced over time. It is not a one time deal. Day after day, we behave according to our values and to our morals and lo and behold, we live like angels.
Regardless of your beliefs, words to live by and to practice.

Our son Emet just “lost” his fourth baby tooth. I quote the word “lost” because in reality all four of them had to be pulled by his dentist. The bottom two came out easily with a little gas and a little novacaine. But the top two were a bit of a problem. It turns out the new teeth had already come in a big way so it was going to take more meds to get them out.

Sitting there holding his hand, I thought I was going to faint. It looked ridiculously painful. He held it together very well. There were a few tears  - mostly mine  - and the teeth were gone. Once it was done, he turned to look at me and asked “Is there a tooth fairy?”

Knowing the best mom is the mom who asks the question right back (and therefore deflects any possible answer), I answered “ What do you think?”

“I think there is a toothfairy but  someone in my class said that your parents come at three in the morning and put the money under your bed.”  Before I could answer, he continued, “But I know you and Daddy. You would never get up at three in the morning.”

“Emet”, I said, “you are right. Daddy and I would never get up at three in the morning to do that. “ Technically,  I was 100% honest.  I slid in by the seat of my pants.

Fast forward to four a.m. Emet runs into our room holding the money the tooth fairy had given him and wakes me up.  “ Mom you can not be the tooth fairy! You were fast asleep! Now I know the truth.”

I could not help thinking  - as I was watching the children’s choir sing “He’s got the Whole World in His hands” during the National Prayer Service which officially began President Obama’s first day of work  - how much this song had new meaning. I sang it for the first time in the Christmas (yes, Christmas) pageant at my grammar school.  At the time, I was not sure who that “He” was referring to, but it definitely was not Obama. As I aged, I got it. God has the whole world in his hands.

But last Wednesday on his first official day of work I could not help but think the choir was not referring to God, rather to our new president. President Obama literally has the world on his shoulders. No pressure.

Everyone, not just Americans, is watching him. Watching every single move he makes. From how he deals with the situation in the Middle East to how he deals with his mother-in-law. You would think with this kind of scrutiny and pressure, he is bound to fail or at least crack. Yet watching him navigate his first day of work after 10 inaugural balls, he looked smooth, calm, as if he was saying to all of us. “No problem. I’ve got it.”

Only time will tell if President Barack Hussein Obama truly has it but I’m hopeful.