An Apt Comparison

There are times, it seems to me, when the comparisons between worldly actions and spiritual actions are warranted. While one may look for political bias in such comparisons, the more important point is that we understand our spiritual need.

The reaction to the Senate election in Massacheuttes is a case in point. From an AP story by Jennifer Loven, I took these words – [President]Obama was furious with Democrat Martha Coakley for what many in Washington saw as inept handling of a once-sure victory for the seat long held by Kennedy, the official said. The president undoubtedly was also mad at himself. He said as much in a first-year anniversary interview with ABC News, acknowledging that he had made a mistake in not making his aims clear to the American public — a failure he already had planned to correct but which now had become more imperative.

Draw what you will from this paragraph about worldly politics.  The spiritual comparison lands here:

First, we are always anxious to blame our failures on someone else. Ms. Coakley, about whom I know nothing, will be the focal point of much blame even though any thinking person will recognize this election was a referendum on activities in Washington not Boston. When we are struggling with the Father, we blame the preacher, the teacher, the spouse, the neighbor, the boss, or any number of other folks, but are almost always reluctant to recognize that the problem is – ME! Pure and simple. Get – ME fixed, and we’re nearing an end to the issue.

Secondly, I am often convinced that God does not understand my needs. If I could just make my needs and desire more clear to Him, He would understand that I really am a good person deserving His support. God never needs an explanation regarding what I meant, or what was my aim or intent. He knew me before I left the womb, He knows my every thought and secret motive. He understands that my righteousness is as “filthy rags.” My only hope is to submit to His Lordship.

Just as the President of the United States must find the will of the people, and govern from a non-adversarial perspective, so we must give up our lust for power and our intent to do “our own thing.”

One might hope for an alternative. Believe me, there is no other way.