The late President John F. Kennedy said,
“The problems of the world cannot possibly be solved by skeptics or cynics whose horizons are limited by the obvious realities. We need men [and women] who can dream of things that never were.”
On May 25, 1961, Kennedy declared the intention of landing a man on the moon and returning him safely to earth within the decade. Of course, we know this was accomplished. The remarkable thing about Kennedy’s declaration is that at this time the science and the technology did not yet exist to do such a thing. At the time it was impossible.
Impossibility is a disguise worn by great opportunity. Insoluble problems bring forward the necessary tension, disturbance and confusion that launch our inherent creativity.
I know that the women and men in this room today hold the key to great opportunity.
I know that God, the infinitely creative Spirit, is present and active, and available.
May God work in your hearts today to bring forth from your wisdom, purpose and resolve, a new dream of what can be for our beloved California and its people.
And so it is. Amen
