The Torch always passes

I remember JFK's inaugural.   "The torch has passed to a new generation".  It is happening again, the first "post baby boomer" President will take office tomorrow.  That is as it should be. If God wanted leaders to lead forever, he would have made them immortal.  While some have extraordinarily long lives, no one can lead forever. My father never faced up to that simple fact.  My father and his two brothers built a busness.  They proclaimed their intention was to build it for us, the next generation.  They never did let go.  Maybe none of us next generation members appeared capable in their eyes. Maybe we were not.  As their abilities to function declined they did not turn to anyone outside the family either. They owned the business. they had the right to run it as long as they wanted to. They did not have the wisdom to know when to let go.  It was impossible for them to say, " we are not capable any more".  It was impossble for them to say  "someone esle can do this also".  It was impossible for them to say, " for this business to exist beyond our time, we must let go". They talked of a transition to the next generation.  They brought some of us into the business. They could never let go of the power. There were excuses and pleas to the moment's "special circumstances".  "Just need to get things to a better place."  "Just need to have this particular issues resolved."  The unspoken assumption was, you can't handle it now.  We love you so we do not want to dump the current mess on you. We need to make circumstances easier for you than they are now.  Did they believe it? Were they correct?  Was it merely self serving of them?  I don't know.  What I do know is they did not let go. The business failed. Maybe we younger ones should pushed harder? We did not. Why not? Out of respect, perhaps. Out of fear we were not capable? Out of love, maybe? We did nothing.  If they did not want to, or need,  hold on with claws of steel they would have moved back. If we felt fully capable we would have tried to push them. If they felt they had raised us to be what they wanted us to be they would have moved back.  Ultimately our lack of action and theirs were a judgement on us and them.  It is mine and I will not give it up.  We will not try take it from you. Thank God the American people know the survival of what we hold dearest requires a letting go. Thank God America knows when The Torch MUST be passed.