"God, help Barack Obama"

... is on the lips of millions of people today. It’s on the lips of celebrities, world leaders, politicians, spiritual leaders and the millions upon millions of others who will be watching the U.S. Presidential Inauguration. For today, whether or not someone supports Obama’s politics is really beside the point. Instead, perhaps what is to be reckoned with is the overwhelming burden so many are placing on this one man ... the burden of their hopes, of their dreams, of everything from the miraculous to the mundane. If Barack Obama is going to succeed in helping those who are reaching out to him, he is going to need a lot more than mere human encouragement.

Among those attending the inaugural ceremonies in Washington today will be Archbishop Desmond Tutu. Tutu has campaigned tirelessly for the oppressed and disadvantaged and remains committed to drawing international attention to the AIDS epidemic in Africa, to ending the plight of Zimbabweans under the dictatorship of Robert Mugabe and to appealing for peace in the Middle East and Darfur.

No doubt, he is hoping that President Obama will join him in this work.

Perhaps, though, given that Mr. Obama is inheriting an economy that is teetering on depression, a nation with near double-digit unemployment, wars in two countries, constant threats from terrorists both domestic and foreign -- and a host of other issues -- Bishop Tutu and everyone else who has such high hopes for America’s newest president might just want to hold off a little while and spend more time in prayer.

“God, help Barack Obama.”