Unfinished Business

I have a special place that I often go to when I’m over in Washington D.C US. I make my pilgrimage up the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. I have climbed these steps many times and every time, whether it’s crowded or empty, depending on the time of day or season of the year, I do the same thing.

I stand and take in the white marble sculpture of Abraham Lincoln the 16th President of USA.

Turning to the left you can see the inscription of one of the most famous of his speeches on the south wall. Lincoln delivered the Gettysburg Address on November 19, 1863. This speech was selected for its familiarity to many, but also because it displayed the president's strength and determination to see a successful conclusion to the American Civil War.

Turning to the opposite north wall and there is written his second inaugural address which he gave on March 4, 1865. This speech was delivered just one month before the conclusion of the Civil War.

I always stand and read both out loud quietly to myself. Although they were spoken for the first time around 160 years ago they resonate and hold such relevance for our world today. 

I then walk back down the steps with a renewed strength to the call of my own work, life and leadership. 

And although I’ve read them many times I often notice a particular phrase. 

This time I paused on the phrase in the inscription on the south wall

“….unfinished business….”

I thought about how much is unfinished in our world, unfinished wars, continuous famine, escalating enmity and increasing vulnerability to so many people powerless to control their own destiny.

Like Abraham Lincoln, we are called to be engaged in every and any way that comes to us in the fight against the things that are wrong. 

But this time, as Lent approaches, I also heard the words of Jesus as he cried out on the cross,

 “It is finished” 

These words brought to an end his own suffering and completed his act of sacrifice for all, for always, for ever.

And we live holding onto both, the unfinished and the finished.

As believers in the resurrection of Christ we live in that certain hope and so find the strength to fight for all that is unfinished in this world at this time.

This week as we enter the first week of Lent, let’s remember the coming season where we will again journey the Easter story and hear those words “It is finished”.

And through the confidence we have in Christ as our Lord and King we are prepared to fight for all that is unfinished in this world now, using our voices, hands and feet and all of who we are. 

Thank you Abraham Lincoln for the example of your life, your leadership and your words.