celebrating my dearest abe
february is a great opportunity to celebrate one of the most amazing men i know, and have still yet to meet; i will meet him one day and it will be glorious-this i am quite certain.
february 12th marked the 203rd year since the birth of abraham lincoln. and yesterday, february 21st was a federal holiday in which we celebrate a host of presidents, and we all know who tops that list. in my book anyways.
thus i would like to take a short minute and share the top ten reasons why i love abe.
#1. his words-there are very few men that have walked this earth that can create such emotion and power using nothing but words. i cannot begin to express what choice morsels his speeches, letters, and writings are to my soul.
#2. his friendship-despite the cost, he sought a profound friendship with frederick douglass...despite the fact that many viewed a man such as frederick as property to be gained, abe saw him as one of his closest, and most adversarial, companions. in a nation plagued with slavery, he boldly proclaimed (as president), 'here comes my friend douglass; i saw you at my inaugural address and there is no man's opinion i value more than yours.'
#3. his ingenuity-as the only president to hold a patent it is not surprising that he would spend hours studying, building, creating, and scaling things. a solution oriented man, he always sought to find creative and positive ways to solve challenges. note-you can see his hand-crafted wooden 'steamboat buoy device' model at the smithsonian.
#4. his dedication-things did not come easy to abe, but that did not stop him from pursuing desires, dreams, ideas, and solutions. be it education, law, presidency, or unity of the nation...he dedicated his life to learning, and acting on said knowledge for the improvement of the world around him. it was said he was never a quick study, but always a thorough one.
#5. his integrity-honest, hard-working, and heroic in many senses. there are few men that carry themselves with such honor...they say, all men die but not all men truly live; lincoln lived.
#6. his devotion-even in the midst of war, a nation divided and in turmoil, he ensured great care was given to his family. he loved his children deeply and would regularly be spotted about with them. some of his most poient pictures were captured alongside his children.
#7. his commitment-while he never formerly served in the military, nor was trained, he committed himself to studying battle tactics, military jargon and operations. he wanted to ensure that those he worked with and alongside experienced mutual respect. his commitment to understanding and pursuit of national unity left most utterly amazed and wholly astonished.
#8. his stature-standing 6'4" without the top hat, his presence was surely powerful. his tall, lanky body always stood rigidly straight. his lean, bony face always stoic (not one smile). and while this may seem distasteful to some, it would only be to those unable to look past the surface. underneath stood a giant of a man braced with kindness, humility, and utmost respect; the truest of gentlemen.
#9. his struggles-while it has been a more recent discussion, and obviously highly debated, many believe he struggled with bouts of clinical depression. it fills me with great hope knowing that someone in such a troubled time, with such a heavy burden, the devastating loss of two children, and so great a calling traveled through the darkest and most temulchuous emotional and mental valleys of this world, could do so with such poise and determination.
#10. his faith-a man of man struggles. a man living in war. a man of loss. a man of melancholy. but a man who walked with god each day.
"trusting in him, who can go with me, and remain with you and be every where for good, let us confidently hope that all will yet be well. to his care commending you, as i hope in your prayers you will commend me, i bid you an affectionate farewell."
surely i love this man. and i know he merely a man. to many unattractive. to many no more important than the other forty-three. but to me, he is my dream. my dream of perseverance. my dream of abolition. my dream of compassion. my dream of unaccepted defeat. my dream of being a faithful and humble servant. ah yes, i love mr. lincoln and these are but few reasons why.
february 12th marked the 203rd year since the birth of abraham lincoln. and yesterday, february 21st was a federal holiday in which we celebrate a host of presidents, and we all know who tops that list. in my book anyways.
thus i would like to take a short minute and share the top ten reasons why i love abe.
#1. his words-there are very few men that have walked this earth that can create such emotion and power using nothing but words. i cannot begin to express what choice morsels his speeches, letters, and writings are to my soul.
#2. his friendship-despite the cost, he sought a profound friendship with frederick douglass...despite the fact that many viewed a man such as frederick as property to be gained, abe saw him as one of his closest, and most adversarial, companions. in a nation plagued with slavery, he boldly proclaimed (as president), 'here comes my friend douglass; i saw you at my inaugural address and there is no man's opinion i value more than yours.'
#3. his ingenuity-as the only president to hold a patent it is not surprising that he would spend hours studying, building, creating, and scaling things. a solution oriented man, he always sought to find creative and positive ways to solve challenges. note-you can see his hand-crafted wooden 'steamboat buoy device' model at the smithsonian.
#4. his dedication-things did not come easy to abe, but that did not stop him from pursuing desires, dreams, ideas, and solutions. be it education, law, presidency, or unity of the nation...he dedicated his life to learning, and acting on said knowledge for the improvement of the world around him. it was said he was never a quick study, but always a thorough one.
#5. his integrity-honest, hard-working, and heroic in many senses. there are few men that carry themselves with such honor...they say, all men die but not all men truly live; lincoln lived.
#6. his devotion-even in the midst of war, a nation divided and in turmoil, he ensured great care was given to his family. he loved his children deeply and would regularly be spotted about with them. some of his most poient pictures were captured alongside his children.
#7. his commitment-while he never formerly served in the military, nor was trained, he committed himself to studying battle tactics, military jargon and operations. he wanted to ensure that those he worked with and alongside experienced mutual respect. his commitment to understanding and pursuit of national unity left most utterly amazed and wholly astonished.
#8. his stature-standing 6'4" without the top hat, his presence was surely powerful. his tall, lanky body always stood rigidly straight. his lean, bony face always stoic (not one smile). and while this may seem distasteful to some, it would only be to those unable to look past the surface. underneath stood a giant of a man braced with kindness, humility, and utmost respect; the truest of gentlemen.
#9. his struggles-while it has been a more recent discussion, and obviously highly debated, many believe he struggled with bouts of clinical depression. it fills me with great hope knowing that someone in such a troubled time, with such a heavy burden, the devastating loss of two children, and so great a calling traveled through the darkest and most temulchuous emotional and mental valleys of this world, could do so with such poise and determination.
#10. his faith-a man of man struggles. a man living in war. a man of loss. a man of melancholy. but a man who walked with god each day.
"trusting in him, who can go with me, and remain with you and be every where for good, let us confidently hope that all will yet be well. to his care commending you, as i hope in your prayers you will commend me, i bid you an affectionate farewell."
surely i love this man. and i know he merely a man. to many unattractive. to many no more important than the other forty-three. but to me, he is my dream. my dream of perseverance. my dream of abolition. my dream of compassion. my dream of unaccepted defeat. my dream of being a faithful and humble servant. ah yes, i love mr. lincoln and these are but few reasons why.
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