Minister in Chief

Not long after the Boston bombings a friend of mine was seeking theological wisdom to help process the attack.  When we both realized that neither her rabbi nor my minister had offered anything especially helpful, I suggested that she watch President Obama's comments on YouTube.  They were both thoughtful and profound, I told her.

I was reminded of this conversation when I listened to the president's response this week to the tornado in Oklahoma.  Once again, he offered spiritual solace not only to those directly involved but to all of us in the midst of tragedy.  Has he defined a new role for the presidency?

If so, he's good at it--which may account in part for his steady approval ratings.  His unusual equanimity rarely gives way.  That he can speak of the unspeakable time and again defuses some of the terror that accompanies these events.

Minister in Chief is probably not listed in the president's job description.  But this work done well makes all the difference.