The war is coming to a close. There are deep divisions in the US between hawks and doves, between blacks and whites, between those who want the firm hand of a central government and those who believe in the autonomy of the states, between those who support the President and those in opposition. It is 1865.

In Washington, DC, March 4 of that year is gray and blustery... not exactly the kind of day Abraham Lincoln had in mind for his second inauguration. Still, with the Civil War drawing to an end, there is hope and joy among the enormous crowds -- made up of wealthy Northern businessmen, a huge contingent of the Union Army, the entire US Government... the victors. Soon, they will have triumphed over the Confederacy and they will set about the process of re-unification. Some, humbled by their victory, will reach out to their opponent in compassion. Others, seeing the outcome as validation of their own moral superiority, intend to have their way with the South.

As he steps to the podium on that day, a month from the end of the war and only 5 days before his own death, Lincoln himself is moved almost to tears. He is about to deliver a speech he knows is his most important, at a time when his nation is broken and deeply in need of healing and inspiration and, as he rises, the sun breaks brilliantly through the clouds, streaming onto the platform, illuminating his very presence. Lincoln proceeds to deliver one of the most important, most emotionally moving addresses in US history and he finishes with words that resonate still today:

"With malice toward none; with charity for all... let us strive on to finish the work we are in; to bind up the nation's wounds; to care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow, and his orphan--to do all which may achieve and cherish a just and lasting peace, among ourselves, and with all nations."

A year from now, we will have a new President. For the next 9 months, though, we will argue bitterly over the course of our nation: war or peace? Universal access to health care or incremental improvements to health insurance? Governmental controls or free-market influence? Hope or fear? Along the way, we'll likely be goaded into judgementalism, we'll talk only with those who agree with us, or, worse, we'll avoid speaking about our choice completely and we'll allow the complex and fundamental issues of the day to be marginalized by the trivial... did she cry? Did his haircut cost $400? Finally, when our candidate wins, we'll feel, ourselves, victorious.

Unfortunately, regardless of who wins, the new President will have deep wounds to heal... not only the wounds of 8 years of divisive leadership, but the additional wounds of what may well be the most damaging Presidential campaign ever waged. I'm hopeful that not only the new President, but we, ourselves, can be guided by Lincoln's words from nearly 150 years ago: "With malice toward none; with charity for all... let us strive on to finish the work we are in..." In my view, the "work we are in" is not the nasty business of electing a President. For most of us, who are more prosperous than we could ever have earned or even imagined on our own, the "work we are in" is serving others. Particularly at a time when there are so many who are in so much need, it is our duty -- in fact, it is our honor -- to reach out and help those who are less fortunate than we are. Next year, let's not so much "spend our political capital" as much as share our many blessings.

The lesson of Abraham Lincoln is that even the most damaged nation can be healed. Let us hope and pray that, through our shared personal committment to come together through generosity and understanding we "may achieve and cherish a just and lasting peace, among ourselves, and with all nations."