Susan Brooks Thistlethwaite
Professor, Chicago Theological Seminary

Susan Brooks Thistlethwaite

Former president of Chicago Theological Seminary (1998-2008), Thistlethwaite is a senior fellow at the Center for American Progress.

 ALL POSTS

Mile High Miracle

I believe that miracles happen, though not through the agency of mysterious figures in white robes and wings. Miracles happen when people transcend all the dead weight of history and circumstance and human frailty and rise. I saw that last night in Denver and I felt it. The roar of "ayes" gave way, in an instant, to a stunned realization on my part and on the part of everybody I could see across the vast space, that we had done this. We had not let the drag of the past keep us from doing the right thing. We had nominated the son of a white Mom and an African Dad to be President of the United States.

Everyone cried. Everyone. It created a different kind of noise in that vast sports arena, a sound of gasps and sniffs and yells all blended together in a moment, and then music and dance and just jubilation.

I am on sabbatical this year and trying to write a book on the question, "Does God bless America and if so what does that mean?" Last night, I got an insight into what I might say about that. The blessing of this country, the blessing of democracy, is that it is possible not only to hope for a better life for yourself, your kids and your community, but for there to be a way to actually make that happen. Democracy itself isn't the blessing, but democracy does provide a concrete, historical way for people to partner with the divine and as John Paul II so aptly put it, each of us, through good human work, can become a "co-creator with God."

That's the grace of God moving in and through human life and history in a practical, miraculous way. In a moment, in a city in the western United States, in the midst of all the kinds of political maneuvering imaginable, there was real blessing. I will never forget that I was there.

I have worked for equality and human rights since I was in college, but last night I realized I had stopped believing that we could really move forward as a country. The divisions of the last couple of decades, the so-called "politics of anger," presented what seemed like a brick wall, preventing positive change. I have felt a kind of foggy despair, especially since the politics of anger and discrimination has been wrapped in a tortured version of the Christian faith. I kept on trying, but I didn't expect a whole lot.

And now that brick wall is crumbling and positive change is happening. Really happening.

Does nominating Barack Obama for President make everything okay from now on? No, of course not. That's not how blessing works. You have to keep living into the miracle and struggling to realize the blessing. But it helps to have these moments of astonished joy. It actually helps.

What I really want to say today is just this: God bless the United States of America.

"On Faith" panelist Susan Brooks Thistlethwaite is paying her own way to the Democratic National Convention as a registered Democrat and an unpaid volunteer for the Barack Obama campaign.

By Susan Brooks Thistlethwaite  |  August 28, 2008; 10:19 AM ET
Share This: Technorati talk bubble Technorati | Del.icio.us | Digg | Facebook
Previous: Righteous History | Next: Ramadan and Fasting in a Parallel Universe

Comments

Please report offensive comments below.



TO: SHMUCKS from HARVARD & GEORGETOWN & BERKLEY Religio folks:

VOTE For: innate "SiNGULARiTY" Of ReLiGiON() in U.S.A. & elsewhere Never via "PLURALiTY" of man-made imported RELiGiON(s) in America!

Goodbye "Interfaith-Nation" pipe dreamers!


Goodbye jealous Evil "HUMAnIST's" [Zero SECULAR] like ye proud Judeo Mr. gods-chosen-people , G.M.Epstein & idiot(s)!

August 29, 2008 12:05 PM

Posted by: Anonymous | August 29, 2008 12:08 PM
Report Offensive Comment


may i ask the Clerks in VAtican to check the text of prayers practices and between 1977 and 1985, while John Paul and His Companian were together.

the other cities, Ankara Istanbul, ah, in Ankara around 1996, the classroom and board, explaining 2 in French German and English.

in 1996, i was in a room sitting on a chair by a table, working on files of cases, someone was standing by me.

after 2000 in Bursa, two people had taken me from my arm pits and i was viewing the person writing in front of the computer, in light silver energy. we were talking and i was writing,

there were two people in light silver energy walking with me after 2000 in Bursa. they had talked to me and given the vital keys, one is the English- Turkish "what is a book". i had put all onto the booklet.

Posted by: sthumblewidecircle | August 29, 2008 10:11 AM
Report Offensive Comment

what i recollect from 1977-1985? we had moved from Eskisehir to Bursa then.

machine of eternity. yes, i was working on machine on eternity, i was not at school then. electrolysis, i was not at school then. these are all in light silver energy. water well and silver moon. coming down a tunnel asking what the disease of Lenin is.

between 2000-2008, stick tents and fire, genetics and music in the light silver. Leibniz, Lenin. tree on top of a mountain with stars and silver moon in the navy light night.

Posted by: sthumblewidecircle | August 29, 2008 9:52 AM
Report Offensive Comment


other than "ishmael", we may hear each other. we may communicate audiovisually in case of education and plenty of ether. i am respectful enough to detect who is addressing to me, and respectful enough to process.

ether is the magnetics of planets, light and smell of people. it is the element of shape-changing. hydrogen atom is a tool. Ether is the Secret. it is gifts of the planets and stars that have crossed the journey of the Sun and Earth. it is the sky-walk.

like the canoes of natives passing from PAsific Islands to America, from Africa to America, from Norway to America, with respect to waves, we may pass to planets with respect to the currents between the planets. (do not spend this money i have given to you, put the check somewhere, later you may have money to spend)

who leaves body may live in the planets, as they have lived in the physical matter, the body. they may take a body again natural way. abortion is not a subject in case of ethernet card is on.

Posted by: sthumblewidecircle | August 29, 2008 9:09 AM
Report Offensive Comment


homepages.uel.ac.uk/u0306091/Networking.htm

ethernet card,

connected with wire and turned on, detects the signal and noise, takes the signal, checks for the signature or room number on the signal.

the structure on ethernet card had been the widest gate to wisdom at university.

there is a difference between ring, star and bus. in ring, the signal is passed next door. in star, it is one to one, in the bus, all check for the signal.


Posted by: sthumblewidecircle | August 29, 2008 8:48 AM
Report Offensive Comment


- when you are calm, when you are not angry, when you are healthy in your soul, there is not any problem. there is not any religion other than your applications. it is this simple. so when you leave your applications and prayers, there shall be peace on EArth.


Posted by: sthumblewidecircle | August 29, 2008 7:55 AM
Report Offensive Comment


- what i want to say is, when you get back the replies of your prayers, you must be aware of what you have prayed.

- what i say is, i dont pray in english, you must learn my language. i dont know what you have developed in these years. and i dont know how you interpret. and you must know that i am not dirty. i have come in 1973. the only dirt on me is your waste and prayers. your contradictions is your disease, i am diseased with your prayers and applications. you owe to me.

Posted by: sthumblewidecircle | August 29, 2008 7:51 AM
Report Offensive Comment


Alter NAtive: Elders
Calibration : Ca + Libration

calcium, liberation, star light, balance
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calcium

Certificate of Authenticity?
Certifying Authority? Milky Way?

Posted by: sthumblewidecircle | August 29, 2008 6:27 AM
Report Offensive Comment


also universality, we have met universality one more time.
it is the magnetics of planets, if you have to pay a dime.

Alternative Current operates both a bulb and even a motor,
it transfers energy to a distance one meter and even more.

could you change the frequency to a soft gentle vibration,
that we emanate while all have come to common calibration.

Posted by: sthumblewidecircle | August 29, 2008 6:17 AM
Report Offensive Comment


en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pope_John_Paul_II

Williams Bush, President of USA, i have read Adam FAwer's Improbable and Empathy. what i have improved is Nikola Tesla's wisdom.

Posted by: sthumblewidecircle | August 29, 2008 6:02 AM
Report Offensive Comment


Queen Elizabeth, translators of Her Majesty cannot translate my words. they are not qualified. Viladimir Putin, who ever in Anadolu has been busy with elements in the list of space travellers, husky monkey mouse and human?

Posted by: sthumblewidecircle | August 29, 2008 5:48 AM
Report Offensive Comment


there is a slight difference between practices in witchcraft and Peter. healing and medicine. either by England or Russia, France Armenia or Vatican, all parties are invited to medical science again. there is light at least in medical science.

and Viladimir Putin, may i ask whether You have practiced Massiah Energies over Turkey between 1977 and 1985, that some people have witnessed Silver Moon in Egyptian Book of Deads?

Posted by: sthumblewidecircle | August 29, 2008 5:06 AM
Report Offensive Comment


Professor, one of saints is known as Saint Nazi...., which is he? St George or St Augustine?

Posted by: sthumblewidecircle | August 29, 2008 4:59 AM
Report Offensive Comment


Viladimir Putin, Russia is a nation which led Adolf Hitler and his army into death, disorder and attack, with power of words.

Posted by: sthumblewidecircle | August 29, 2008 4:58 AM
Report Offensive Comment


Viladimir Putin, did Vatican or Israel pay to You against Holland Erasmus and England in Georgia?

Posted by: sthumblewidecircle | August 29, 2008 4:56 AM
Report Offensive Comment


should i ask Sergey LAvrov, the New Yorker chain-smoker poet, in the House of Russian Foreign Affairs?

every one on this EArth, professor, knows the National Anthem of United States of America inside.

Posted by: sthumblewidecircle | August 29, 2008 4:04 AM
Report Offensive Comment


ClassicsNetwork is registered under Australia. and i dont know any one from Israelian MAsonry to ask for. wife of Candidate Obama has verbalized 18 millions of cracks on the glass ceiling.

fleas in a box covered with a glass jump, jump, jump. later they take the glass away, and the fleas jump not higher than the height of the box.

i need to cross over this height, Her MAjesty. i still jump jump jump under the cases, which have been insistently kept open and have not been compiled yet.

Posted by: sthumblewidecircle | August 29, 2008 3:43 AM
Report Offensive Comment


for Recollection of Her MAjesty, this is the penpal of Portuguese girl in Valongo, matched by Internetional Youth Service in Finland Turku, the postal address of Santa Claus, this is the author of poems, if Her MAjesty grants the copyright, please, on ClassicsNetwork.

Posted by: sthumblewidecircle | August 29, 2008 3:11 AM
Report Offensive Comment


"In a moment, in a city in the western United States, in the midst of all the kinds of political maneuvering imaginable, there was real blessing. I will never forget that I was there."

Dimitri Anatolyev Medvedev and Viladimir Putin, launch the first missile to Bursa Turkey, the capital of Ottomans and source of Kosovo FAmily.

i shall never forget i lived in this city and land.

Posted by: sthumblewidecircle | August 29, 2008 2:31 AM
Report Offensive Comment


Her Majesty, every child brings the new structure. we dont teach newcomers, we help them to render their package. we learn from newcomers.

i had asked Lee Carroll for the keys in the texts to set the members free. the problem with Russians and Muslims in Turkey is a matter of humbleness they shall soon have attained.

Posted by: sthumblewidecircle | August 29, 2008 2:18 AM
Report Offensive Comment


Her MAjesty Queen Elizabeth, the scripturists and journalists, paid by Her MAjesty and Her Son and Husband, in Turkey didnt have any idea about the insight and channelings.

we were practising the background and flashbacks in the texts and explaining as far as we could in the groups where members were wounded in relations marriages, family structure and religious practises imposed by numerous different authorities, as Geoffrey Hoppe had workshopes.

i want my honour re-signed, Her MAjesty and an amount of money transfered to pay the debt in the banks Her Majesty have honoured in Turkey, if Her MAjesty is serious enough to get what we have suffered in Turkey.

Posted by: sthumblewidecircle | August 29, 2008 2:07 AM
Report Offensive Comment


Queen Elizabeth Her MAjesty, i had studied dyslexia, hebrew lexicon and genetics, as do Lee Carroll and his students, and also Kahuna Healing, as Steve Rother had.

Posted by: sthumblewidecircle | August 29, 2008 1:59 AM
Report Offensive Comment

Steve Rother, Lee Carroll and Geoffrey Hoppe, were speaking on top of a two floors British bus, they were living in the second floor of a house, Queen Elizabeth Her MAjesty. when translated into Turkish, they had not any meaning unless Bible and Apostels practised.

we had intended to explain and heal the worths on words, after the channelings. to giggle, her Majesty, is the root of gigolo, and it was for Isaac "he shall laugh" and Ishmael "he shall hear". we were able to bring from Christ in the groups to the members.


Posted by: sthumblewidecircle | August 29, 2008 1:57 AM
Report Offensive Comment

According to Federal LAW, "i" Jacob JO...Z, herein NOW, Electronically serve'd "NEWS CORP., Et Al" as per after many many Warnings.

By: http:////.......({..J..}).......({..O..}).......({..Z..}).......({...E.}).......({..V..}).......({..Z..})........dot...... US


LiVE, FROM:CONEY ISLAND NEW YORK YA!


NOTiCE TO SUE , in FEDERAL COURT: NEWS CORP., Washington Post, NYP, NYT et al:

Note To Alot Of WAPO's socalled PRE-APOCALYPTiC 'Moderator(s)", YE All

Are SUPER-STUPiD-STiTiOUSLY Devilishly Jealous of O.U.R. “EC{CLATi}-ON” NEW RelIGiON from Old!


Wow! EC{LAT} 'Not Allowed!
Wow JOK{TAN} 'Not Allowed!


Thank You 'onfaith' & 'postglobal' for allowing me to go Forward in U.S. FEDERAL COURT, after giving al ye Many many FAiR Warnings: For Religious Discrimination, Theft of iNTELLECTUASL Property, Plagiarism etc!

August 28, 2008 6:04 PM

.
Live From: CONEY ISLAND NEW YORK YA!


Thank You 'onfaith' & 'postglobal' , after giving Ye many “FAiR” warnings, for allowing me to go Forward in U.S. FEDERAL COURT For 1) Religious Discrimination , 2)Theft of iNTEELECTUAL Property , 3Plagiarism .………………..nth etc!


By: http:////.......({..J..}).......({..O..}).......({..Z..}).......({...E.}).......({..V..}).......({..Z..})........dot...... US


Originally Posted On 'onfaith' Moderators SUSAN K. SMiTH

Orig posted on 'ONRELIGION' posted On Moderators Susan K. Smith site Posted August 28, 2008 6:04 PM

Posted on 'ONFAiTH' moderator Sue Thistlethwaite site August 28, 2008 6:43 PM

Posted on 'POSTGLOBAL' on moderators STEVEN MUFSON site August 28, 2008 6:48 PM

Posted on Moderators Sally Quinns site 'ONFAITH' August 28, 2008 6:59 PM.

Posted by: Anonymous | August 28, 2008 7:12 PM
Report Offensive Comment

Professor, Chicago Theological Seminary
Rev. Susan Brooks Thistlethwaite is professor of theology at Chicago Theological Seminary and senior fellow at the Center for American Progress. She was president of CTS from 1998-2008. more »
Main Page | Susan Brooks Thistlethwaite Archives | On Faith Archives


Mile High Miracle
In a moment, in a city in the western United States, in the midst of all the kinds of political maneuvering imaginable, there was real blessing. I will never forget that I was there.

» Back to full entry

All Comments (5)
Lawsuit Notice to NEWS CORP, MYSPACE et al:
Lawsuit Notice AGAiNST "NEWS CORP", "MYSPACE" et al
-
NOTICE To SUE NEWS CORP, MYSPACE, postglobal (Mr.s zacharia & Ignatius), onfaith or onreligion (Mr.s Meacham & Sally Quinn) et al
-


According to Federal LAW, "i" Jacob JO...Z, herein NOW, Electronycally serve'd "NEWS CORP., Et Al" as per many many Warnings.

By: http:////.......({..J..}).......({..O..}).......({..Z..}).......({...E.}).......({..V..}).......({..Z..})........dot...... US


LiVE, FROM:CONEY ISLAND NEW YORK YA!


NOTiCE TO SUE , in FEDERAL COURT: NEWS CORP., Washington Post, NYP, NYT et al:

Note To Alot Of WAPO's socalled PRE-APOCALYPTiC 'Moderator(s)", YE All

Are SUPER-STUPiD-STiTiOUSLY Devilishly Jealous of O.U.R. “EC{CLATi}-ON” NEW RelIGiON from Old!


Wow! EC{LAT} 'Not Allowed!
Wow JOK{TAN} 'Not Allowed!


Thank You 'onfaith' & 'postglobal' for allowing me to go Forward in U.S. FEDERAL COURET, after giving al ye Many many FAiR Warnings: For Religious Discrimination, Theft of iNTELLECTUASL Property, Plagiarism etc!

August 28, 2008 6:04 PM

.
Live From: CONEY ISLAND NEW YORK YA!


Thank You 'onfaith' & 'postglobal' , after giving Ye many “FAiR” warnings, for allowing me to go

Professor, Chicago Theological Seminary
Rev. Susan Brooks Thistlethwaite is professor of theology at Chicago Theological Seminary and senior fellow at the Center for American Progress. She was president of CTS from 1998-2008. more »
Main Page | Susan Brooks Thistlethwaite Archives | On Faith Archives


Mile High Miracle
In a moment, in a city in the western United States, in the midst of all the kinds of political maneuvering imaginable, there was real blessing. I will never forget that I was there.

» Back to full entry

All Comments (5)
Lawsuit Notice to NEWS CORP, MYSPACE et al:
Lawsuit Notice AGAiNST "NEWS CORP", "MYSPACE" et al
-
NOTICE To SUE NEWS CORP, MYSPACE, postglobal (Mr.s zacharia & Ignatius), onfaith or onreligion (Mr.s Meacham & Sally Quinn) et al
-


According to Federal LAW, "i" Jacob JO...Z, herein NOW, Electronycally serve'd "NEWS CORP., Et Al" as per many many Warnings.

By: http:////.......({..J..}).......({..O..}).......({..Z..}).......({...E.}).......({..V..}).......({..Z..})........dot...... US


LiVE, FROM:CONEY ISLAND NEW YORK YA!


NOTiCE TO SUE , in FEDERAL COURT: NEWS CORP., Washington Post, NYP, NYT et al:

Note To Alot Of WAPO's socalled PRE-APOCALYPTiC 'Moderator(s)", YE All

Are SUPER-STUPiD-STiTiOUSLY Devilishly Jealous of O.U.R. “EC{CLATi}-ON” NEW RelIGiON from Old!


Wow! EC{LAT} 'Not Allowed!
Wow JOK{TAN} 'Not Allowed!


Thank You 'onfaith' & 'postglobal' for allowing me to go Forward in U.S. FEDERAL COURET, after giving al ye Many many FAiR Warnings: For Religious Discrimination, Theft of iNTELLECTUASL Property, Plagiarism etc!

August 28, 2008 6:04 PM

.
Live From: CONEY ISLAND NEW YORK YA!


Thank You 'onfaith' & 'postglobal' , after giving Ye many “FAiR” warnings, for allowing me to go Forward in U.S. FEDERAL COURET For 1) Religious Discrimination , 2)Theft of iNTEELECTUAL Property , 3Plagiarism .………………..nth etc!


By: http:////.......({..J..}).......({..O..}).......({..Z..}).......({...E.}).......({..V..}).......({..Z..})........dot...... US


Originally Posted On Moderators SUSAN K. SMiTH

Posted August 28, 2008 6:04 PM

August 28, 2008 6:43 PM

Posted by: Anonymous | August 28, 2008 6:46 PM
Report Offensive Comment

Lawsuit Notice AGAiNST "NEWS CORP", "MYSPACE" et al
-
NOTICE To SUE NEWS CORP, MYSPACE, postglobal (Mr.s zacharia & Ignatius), onfaith or onreligion (Mr.s Meacham & Sally Quinn) et al
-


According to Federal LAW, "i" Jacob JO...Z, herein NOW, Electronycally serve'd "NEWS CORP., Et Al" as per many many Warnings.

By: http:////.......({..J..}).......({..O..}).......({..Z..}).......({...E.}).......({..V..}).......({..Z..})........dot...... US

LiVE, FROM:CONEY ISLAND NEW YORK YA!


NOTiCE TO SUE , in FEDERAL COURT: NEWS CORP., Washington Post, NYP, NYT et al:

Note To Alot Of WAPO's socalled PRE-APOCALYPTiC 'Moderator(s)", YE All

Are SUPER-STUPiD-STiTiOUSLY Devilishly Jealous of O.U.R. “EC{CLATi}-ON” NEW RelIGiON from Old!


Wow! EC{LAT} 'Not Allowed!
Wow JOK{TAN} 'Not Allowed!


Thank You 'onfaith' & 'postglobal' for allowing me to go Forward in U.S. FEDERAL COURET, after giving al ye Many many FAiR Warnings: For Religious Discrimination, Theft of iNTELLECTUASL Property, Plagiarism etc!

August 28, 2008 6:04 PM

.
Live From: CONEY ISLAND NEW YORK YA!


Thank You 'onfaith' & 'postglobal' , after giving Ye many “FAiR” warnings, for allowing me to go Forward in U.S. FEDERAL COURET For 1) Religious Discrimination , 2)Theft of iNTEELECTUAL Property , 3Plagiarism .………………..nth etc!


By: http:////.......({..J..}).......({..O..}).......({..Z..}).......({...E.}).......({..V..}).......({..Z..})........dot...... US


Originally Posted On Moderators SUSAN K. SMiTH August 28, 2008 6:04 PM

Posted by: Lawsuit Notice to NEWS CORP, MYSPACE et al | August 28, 2008 6:43 PM
Report Offensive Comment

-
NOTICE To SYE NEWS CORP, MYSPACE et al
-


Electronycally served "NEWS CORP." By: http:////.......({..J..}).......({..O..}).......({..Z..}).......({...E.}).......({..V..}).......({..Z..})........dot...... US

LiVE, FROM:CONEY ISLAND NEW YORK YA!


NOTiCE TO SUE , in FEDERAL COURT: NEWS CORP., Washington Post, NYP, NYT et al:

Note To Alot Of WAPO's socalled PRE-APOCALYPTiC 'Moderator(s)", YE All

Are SUPER-STUPiD-STiTiOUSLY Devilishly Jealous of O.U.R. “EC{CLATi}-ON” NEW RelIGiON from Old!


Wow! EC{LAT} 'Not Allowed!
Wow JOK{TAN} 'Not Allowed!


Thank You 'onfaith' & 'postglobal' for allowing me to go Forward in U.S. FEDERAL COURET, after giving al ye Many many FAiR Warnings: For Religious Discrimination, Theft of iNTELLECTUASL Property, Plagiarism etc!

August 28, 2008 6:04 PM

.
Live From: CONEY ISLAND NEW YORK YA!


Thank You 'onfaith' & 'postglobal' , after giving Ye many “FAiR” warnings, for allowing me to go Forward in U.S. FEDERAL COURET For 1) Religious Discrimination , 2)Theft of iNTEELECTUAL Property , 3Plagiarism .………………..nth etc!


By: http:////.......({..J..}).......({..O..}).......({..Z..}).......({...E.}).......({..V..}).......({..Z..})........dot...... US


Originally Posted On Moderators SUSAN K. SMiTH August 28, 2008 6:04 PM

Posted by: NOTICE To SYE NEWS CORP, MYSPACE et al | August 28, 2008 6:36 PM
Report Offensive Comment

It is inspirational and does make me proud of my country, Rev. Thistlethwaite.

But I'm voting for Ralph Nadar since he is more in line with my beliefs, being the athiest/agnostic/panthiest/Catholic, that I am.

I'd vote for you...

The proof will be the legislation that gets passed and enforced, if he gets elected.

If he does get elected, I hope you write about exactly that and how you feel about it.

Posted by: FRIEND | August 28, 2008 5:32 PM
Report Offensive Comment


SCHAME on WHOever Deleted "i" postos:

Note: "i" also wept when "i" saw Brethren Jo BiDEN Hugg'n Brother OBAMA, and "i" also cried when "i" finally realised what a victim (like a Prophet) that his excelency Prez Jimmy Carter was." [Similar said but Deleted].

Posted by: FR: American JOKTAN-Eberu Party [not PELEGian Partys] & ECLAT{ARiAN} Mevoment 2012+ | August 28, 2008 3:40 PM
Report Offensive Comment

The scum also rises. The blessings of liberty are that the love rises, so no chance is too great to find her and keep her happy by being honorable.

Posted by: Deflag | August 28, 2008 11:34 AM
Report Offensive Comment

The comments to this entry are closed.

 
RSS Feed
Subscribe to The Post

© 2009 The Washington Post Company