Is this the promised land or are we still wandering in the desert?

Those were the questions that went through my mind as I attended Barack Obama's acceptance speech at Mile High Stadium.  I wasn't planning on being there but a last minute phone call from a new found friend landed me with a parking pass and a seat.

The crowd was energized, Obama's was oration was soaring, the fireworks served as a fitting punctuation.  But I spent most of my time looking at the people next to me.  On my right was a balding, thirty-something white man who stood the whole time and couldn't speak because of his tears.  Two seats to my left was a middle aged native-American man who proudly waved his American flag non-stop.  And then there was Hilliard a sixty something african-american.

When I arrived and sat down next to him it was obvious that he had been there a while as half eaten bags of popcorn and snacks were spread out in the seats around him.  We exchanged greetings and smiled as we listened to Stevie Wonder sing, "Signed, sealed, delivered…I'm yours!"

He then leaned over and said, "I never thought I'd see this day."  He then shared about growing up in Texas and attending segregated schools.  Raised by a mother who was illiterate.  He then said that it was amazing enough that he had retired as a successful civil engineer, sent two sons to college and now owns a gallery for western art.  After Obama's speech he looked at me and said, "Thank you for sharing this moment with me.  I wish my sons were here with me but you have been a great substitute!"  As a man who has always wanted a daddy, tears welled up.

Forty-five years ago King spoke about his dream.  Forty years ago, the night before he was assassinated, he said that he had been to the mountain top and seen the promised land.  Which makes me wonder…

Is what we are witnessing the promised land King saw?