Obama Speaks to Poe Mill

I pray that the many black kids I love in the Poe Mill section of Greenville, SC, will hear their president’s words:

President Obama delivered a fiery sermon to black America on Thursday night, warning black parents that they must accept their own responsibilities by “putting away the Xbox and putting our kids to bed at a reasonable hour,” and telling black children that growing up poor is no reason to get bad grades.

“No one has written your destiny for you,” he said, directing his remarks to “all the other Barack Obamas out there” who might one day grow up to be president. “Your destiny is in your hands, and don’t you forget that. That’s what we have to teach all of our children! No excuses! No excuses!”

….

“They might think they’ve got a pretty jump shot or a pretty good flow,” Mr. Obama said, “but our kids can’t all aspire to be LeBron or Lil Wayne. I want them aspiring to be scientists and engineers, doctors and teachers, not just ballers and rappers. I want them aspiring to be a Supreme Court justice. I want them aspiring to be president of the United States of America.”

[From Obama Speaks at N.A.A.C.P. Celebration – NYTimes.com]

I disagree only with President Obama’s assumption that everyone’s destiny is completely in his own hands. If even the president’s heart is in the hand of the Lord, then surely the people’s is, too. God’s rule over my life is ultimate, not my rule.