Hope you’re having a great day.

… One more thing about President Obama’s inauguration.

We know there was a “blooper” when the oath of office was administered.

The way it’s supposed to go?

“I will faithfully execute the office of president of theUnited States.”

But Chief Justice John Roberts switched it around.

“I will execute the office of president of the United Statesfaithfully.”

And then everyone got all confused…

So we would say…

“Whatever!

It’s the same idea.”

But it’s not so simple.

Because the words are actually set down by the Constitution.

So a real question was raised.

Was Barak Obama the president, or not?

It seems the legal experts all agreed.

“Not really a problem.”

99.99999% certain.

But that wasn’t enough.

Not when we’re talking about becoming president of theUnited States.

The most powerful person in the world.

We need to be absolutely certain.

So the “president” did it again.

And the White House counsel explained it.

“It was done over out of an abundance of caution.”

… We can take a lesson from this.

About how careful we are to get the words right when there’s a lot at stake.

Like the whole world.

Jewish tradition teaches that every person is a…

“World”.

And when we’re about to say something to another person?

Sometimes we can build that world up.

But sometimes we can bring that world down.

And like with the oath of office?

We need to be very careful.

We need an abundance of caution!

…Some things are obviously hurtful.

Then there are the things that are not so obvious.

But that we should probably never say, like…

“I love you… but.  “I like you…but.  I appreciate you…but.”

“Why do you always…  Why do you never…  Can’t you ever.”

And here’s something else we should never say…

“Please don’t get me wrong…”

Because if what we want to say needs that intro?

We shouldn’t say it!

… And we should always remember.

Like the president?

We need have to have an “abundance of caution”.

Because unlike the president?

…We may not get a second chance!

All the best,