Hail and Farewell
Illustration
Stories
A little while, and you will no longer see me…. (v. 12)
As the autumn of 1796 approached George Washington, who was nearing the end of his second term as President of the United States, set about to accomplish what many considered unthinkable — write a farewell letter to the nation he’d led in battles both military and political for 45 years.
It’s hard to imagine just how high in the esteem of the young nation Washington was universally held. Not that there weren’t many other stellar personalities who cast large shadows. There was John Adams, farmer and lawyer, used to getting his hands dirty, whether it was in the New England soil of his birth or championing unpopular causes to demonstrate the law protects everyone. He tirelessly worked overseas during the Revolution to establish relationships with skeptical nations overseas before ultimately securing the loans that made the continued revolution possible. There was Benjamin Franklin, printer, scientist, philosopher, whose practical inventions benefited ordinary people and connected them to scientific truth through the Franklin Stove and the lightning rod, was admired in Europe even more than America. There were many other names — James Madison, Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Paine, and Alexander Hamilton.
But there was no one like Washington. It was he who held the army and the country together through “the times that try men’s souls” when all seemed to hang on a thread. Later he answered the call of duty once more. Thirteen faltering years under the Articles of Confederation led to paralysis and chaos. The new Constitution was devised that required a strong chief executive. Washington reluctantly accepted the call to serve again as the first president of the newly recrafted nation.
Eight years earlier, when the presidential electors cast their ballots in the first presidential contest, everyone knew only one man was qualified for this job, and for that reason Washington was elected unanimously.
After that, many assumed he would serve for life. Washington disagreed. Instead, he called upon his friend and protégé Alexander Hamilton to help him craft what became his classic farewell address. For decades afterwards it was considered as important a document as the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution.
He warned against international entanglements as well as partisan politics at home in ways that have proven prophetic. But he also expressed a faith that the nation would continue without him.
His closing words were honest and powerful. “Though in reviewing the incidents of my administration I am unconscious of intentional error, I am nevertheless too sensible of my defects not to think it probable that I may have committed many errors. Whatever they may be, I fervently beseech the Almighty to avert or mitigate the evils to which they may tend. I shall also carry with me the hope that my country will never cease to view them with indulgence and that, after 45 years of my life dedicated to its service with an upright zeal, the faults of incompetent abilities will be consigned to oblivion, as myself must soon be to the mansions of rest.”
As it turned out, despite the fears of many the nation did move on. There were mistakes and disappointments, as well as acts of heroism, and successes. Things weren’t perfect, but the nation endured after Washington’s farewell address.
Fast backwards seventeen hundred and sixtyish years and another farewell address — in this one Jesus said farewell to his disciples in a speech that stretches from John 3:12-17:26. Despite the fact his words are clear to us one suspects the disciples had no clue he was saying goodbye, not even when Jesus said, “A little while, and you will no longer see me….” The Lord they loved and served was leaving them, but though he would soon die, he would also be resurrected, and then ascend into heaven, Jesus wanted them to know they would not be abandoned.
In George Washington’s farewell address there is an implicit assumption — Washington believes despite his absence the nation will endure and even triumph. And though Jesus in his farewell address warns his disciples of the difficulties that lie ahead he also confident of their ability to carry on. They would be strengthened by God’s continued presence, unseen, yet strongly felt.
“When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth…,” Jesus said! The church endures through changes. And with the guidance of the Spirit, we can be confident that until the Lord’s return we will be ready when we are called to serve — in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
As the autumn of 1796 approached George Washington, who was nearing the end of his second term as President of the United States, set about to accomplish what many considered unthinkable — write a farewell letter to the nation he’d led in battles both military and political for 45 years.
It’s hard to imagine just how high in the esteem of the young nation Washington was universally held. Not that there weren’t many other stellar personalities who cast large shadows. There was John Adams, farmer and lawyer, used to getting his hands dirty, whether it was in the New England soil of his birth or championing unpopular causes to demonstrate the law protects everyone. He tirelessly worked overseas during the Revolution to establish relationships with skeptical nations overseas before ultimately securing the loans that made the continued revolution possible. There was Benjamin Franklin, printer, scientist, philosopher, whose practical inventions benefited ordinary people and connected them to scientific truth through the Franklin Stove and the lightning rod, was admired in Europe even more than America. There were many other names — James Madison, Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Paine, and Alexander Hamilton.
But there was no one like Washington. It was he who held the army and the country together through “the times that try men’s souls” when all seemed to hang on a thread. Later he answered the call of duty once more. Thirteen faltering years under the Articles of Confederation led to paralysis and chaos. The new Constitution was devised that required a strong chief executive. Washington reluctantly accepted the call to serve again as the first president of the newly recrafted nation.
Eight years earlier, when the presidential electors cast their ballots in the first presidential contest, everyone knew only one man was qualified for this job, and for that reason Washington was elected unanimously.
After that, many assumed he would serve for life. Washington disagreed. Instead, he called upon his friend and protégé Alexander Hamilton to help him craft what became his classic farewell address. For decades afterwards it was considered as important a document as the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution.
He warned against international entanglements as well as partisan politics at home in ways that have proven prophetic. But he also expressed a faith that the nation would continue without him.
His closing words were honest and powerful. “Though in reviewing the incidents of my administration I am unconscious of intentional error, I am nevertheless too sensible of my defects not to think it probable that I may have committed many errors. Whatever they may be, I fervently beseech the Almighty to avert or mitigate the evils to which they may tend. I shall also carry with me the hope that my country will never cease to view them with indulgence and that, after 45 years of my life dedicated to its service with an upright zeal, the faults of incompetent abilities will be consigned to oblivion, as myself must soon be to the mansions of rest.”
As it turned out, despite the fears of many the nation did move on. There were mistakes and disappointments, as well as acts of heroism, and successes. Things weren’t perfect, but the nation endured after Washington’s farewell address.
Fast backwards seventeen hundred and sixtyish years and another farewell address — in this one Jesus said farewell to his disciples in a speech that stretches from John 3:12-17:26. Despite the fact his words are clear to us one suspects the disciples had no clue he was saying goodbye, not even when Jesus said, “A little while, and you will no longer see me….” The Lord they loved and served was leaving them, but though he would soon die, he would also be resurrected, and then ascend into heaven, Jesus wanted them to know they would not be abandoned.
In George Washington’s farewell address there is an implicit assumption — Washington believes despite his absence the nation will endure and even triumph. And though Jesus in his farewell address warns his disciples of the difficulties that lie ahead he also confident of their ability to carry on. They would be strengthened by God’s continued presence, unseen, yet strongly felt.
“When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth…,” Jesus said! The church endures through changes. And with the guidance of the Spirit, we can be confident that until the Lord’s return we will be ready when we are called to serve — in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
