Barack Obama, More Than Just a President

INSIGHTto the unusual, known to the unknown, visible to
Some years back, who would have thought ofthe invisible. Anytime man travels beyond the
such a phenomenon, an African American growingvisible to the realities of the invisible which could
up to become an American president in a countrybe manifested in the earth, man would inevitably
where few years back, blacks were marginalizedinitiate a breakthrough. There is still so much
and segregated from the whites? A countrymankind can derive from the visible things around
where many black civil rights activists and leadersus, be it natural or social phenomenon. It all
were murdered in cold blood just because theydepends on our quest for deeper understanding
voiced out their grievances against the injustice,and revelations from the things that God by
social prejudice and segregation taking place on aprovidence has surrounded us with.
day to day basis in the USA.Let's begin this journey once more and change
Finally, on the 4th of November 2008, historythe tides of history, and join the thousands who
was made with Barack Obama declared Presidenthave gone before us but left their footprint on
Elect of the USA, and on January 20 2009 hethe sands of time, by the revelations and
was sworn in as the first African-Americandiscoveries they gave us. The visible is a pointer
president in the USA. This singular event shookto far reaching invisible realities. Let's not end with
the entire world and became a major topic onwhat we can see, touch, smell, taste and hear.
many national and international media, newspapersThere is more beyond this realm.
and magazines, etc. and a topic of discussion toWhat is the invisible all about?
millions around the world.The invisible embodies possibilities within our reach
Right now, Barack Obama is about his duties aswhich man has not yet exploited. Dimensions of
president of the USA. The dust of euphoria whichknowledge, wisdom, and invention etc, yet to be
surrounded the event of his election victory andtapped by man. The invisible does not spell out
his swearing into office as first African Americannon-existence. The fact that it is not yet here,
president in history is gradually settling down. Mydoes not mean it is nonexistent. Who could have
quest in this treatise is as follows:i) Is it all overbelieved 2000 years ago the possibility of the
with Obama finally becoming the first Africanaero plane, high technological bridges, roads, cars,
American president in history? Or this is just thecomputers, mobile phones etc? If the men of
beginning for mankind to grasps insight higher thanyesterday were told what awaits mankind in the
what we have ever attained from this singular21st century they would have had their reasons
event? Are they no other deeper revelations weto doubt. William Shakespeare said "Our doubts
can derive from this singular eventful event?are traitors; they make us fear the good we
Have we run out of visionaries, luminaries, wiseoften may win by fearing the attempt".
men, etc. who can tell us about this 21st centuryRight now in the midst of our scientific and
phenomenon?technological breakthrough, social and economic
It is on this wise that, I have devoted myself tochanges, I have good news to a complacent
seek for insight, clearer and deeper understandingculture, there is still so much in virtually all spheres
to this untapped treasure, and unexploited mine;of life, which man has not yet touched.
"the Obama phenomenon".What are we doing with this challenge? are we
Some hundreds of years ago, there were nogoing to seat down and conclude that the end has
airplanes but there were birds to inspire thealready come or are we going to see the eternity
invention of the aero plane. There were no cars,in time and the infinite beyond the finite and the
computers, mobile phones, etc. Today man hasinvisible beyond the visible?
transformed the face of the earth, creating lightThe rise to power of Barack Obama as the first
where there was once darkness, roads whereAfrican American president in the U.S.A. is a visible
rivers once flowed; transportation avenues wherepolitical and social phenomenon, but with far
man formerly walked on foot, etc. have you everreaching enlightenment available to everyone who
asked where man got most of her inspirations?will see beyond the visible to the invisible. This is
For your information, most of what we seethe purpose of these treaties.
today as scientific and technological breakthroughsFor, since the creation of the world his invisible
came as a result of few individuals who used theattributes are clearly seen, being understood by
visible (natural and social occurrences orthe things they are made even his eternal powers
phenomenon) to reach the invisible (things yet toand God head, so that they are without
exist). What is the visible all about? The visible isexcuse"Rom1:10
everything we see around us, naturalIt was believed for years that God is a mystery,
phenomenon as created by God or socialwhich implies he can't be understood. The above
phenomenon as orchestrated by destiny andtexts challenges that mindset, it says the invisible
actualized by man. The visible things around us areattributes of God, his external power and God
pointers to invisible realities meant to be actualizedhead which for centuries humans have considered
by man.mysteries can be clearly seen and understood by
Human existence is a responsibility for man toa careful observation of the things which are
bring out the invisible from the visible. This is themade. This breakthrough calls for open
power within humans, capable of shaping historymindedness instead of close mindedness.
and changing the course of nature as positiveHelen Keller said "A blinded eye is better than a
breakthroughs for a better world. What do youblinded mind." We look with our eyes but we only
see from the visible things around you? Do yousee with our minds. Things that are made speak
see them as ends or as means toward farof every visible fact. All we see is not all that
reaching and endless possibilities? The ability toexist. Beyond what we see are great depths of
see the invisible from the visible was theknowledge, wisdom and understanding startling to
foundation for both arts and sciences. Some ofour human imagination.
the beautiful literatures from authors like MarkIf the invisible attributes of God, his eternal power
Twain, Chinuo Achebe, etc. will not have beenand God head can be clearly seen and understood
possible if these men never saw the invisible fromby the things that are made. Imagine how much
the visible. The most beautiful works of art likewe could tap from our environment, from the
the painting of Michelangelo were all a function ofthings we see everyday. The political, social,
what most of the artists then deduced from theireconomic and cultural phenomenon we see around
visible surroundings. Imagine the agriculturalistus everyday.
George Washington Carver who was able toI believe a new horizon awaits us, if we would
derive 160 products from peanuts and 360begin full appreciation of all that exist around us,
different products from sweet potatoes of whichand the changing phenomenon which characterizes
others will use directly for food.the world in the 21st century.
What you see will determine where you will finallyFor King Solomon all that existed were his
arriveteachers. He learned from fig trees, rivers and
To the Wright brothers (inventors of aero- plane)day to day human interactions etc. That's why in
watching a bird in the sky was all they needed topressing his case on the importance of work, self
muster the courage and believe that men tooreliance and governance he admonished mankind
could fly through the use of an aero plane. Isaacto learn from the ant. How can we learn from the
Newton's observation of apple fruit fallingant except we observe the ant and draw
downward from a tree was the entire visibleinferences, insight and knowledge from their day
phenomenon which led him to the discovery ofto day operations?
the law of gravity.The scientist, scribe, philosopher, poet, preacher
Both arts and sciences owe their breakthroughand writer who have moved the world forward,
from the inspiration ordinary men derive fromthey have one thing in common, they were quick
visible acts or occurrences. Can you write downlearners. They learned from what others saw
some personal discoveries you have made fromnothing. May every reader of this book receive
the visible things which surrounds you. This maythe inspiration to be a quick learner. God's
begin your journey into endless breakthrough.attributes can be understood if we can allow the
What is breakthrough? Breakthrough in all fieldsteacher within us to give us illumination from all
has to do with making inventories from the usual,we see around us.