it’s a time to pray…
August was a long month for Senator Larry Craig. If you’ve watched the national news, or local in Idaho, you’ve undoubtedly heard it all. Of course, you and I won’t ever know exactly what happed that day in an airport bathroom. We have accusations from a peace officer and we have a plea of guilty to lesser charges… and we have the national circus that comes to town when there’s the smell of fresh blood.
My question is for us of faith… for we who should never be caught viewing a human being as anything other than a beloved of our God, regardless of seen and unseen brokenness. Where do our concerns and priorities lie? Do we value the political spectacle of Senator Craig’s situation over the obvious brokenness in his own life and the life of his family? Are we Republicans and Democrats, Libertarians and Moderates, Communists and Anarchists, and all the political spectrum therein, before we are disciples of Christ? I don’t mean this as a rhetorical question. I mean it as a serious “this really needs some attention” question, because the answer to the question will determine how we respond. Some of us are immediately drawn to the political feast and others may be scared into silence and shame.
Will we respond with prayer for a man and his family, or respond with ridicule and malice, or silence and apathy? I’m not debating guilt here, I’m wondering about healing. I’m not asking if he should or shouldn’t have made his resignation, I’m asking about hope. I’m wondering if we have any role in the healing and hope, or if we only interact with this particular human being in the political arena. Under what circumstances do we cease to have spiritual obligations to our fellow, broken beings? When do we stop carrying obligations of forgiveness, words of life and peace, and humbled service?
So, Sunday morning we raised Senator Craig before God’s throne, along with his family, for healing and help. That in this time of undeniable pain and hurt, God would do the needed work of peace, making whole, and giving joy.
The world doesn’t need another Democrat. The world doesn’t need another Republican. The world can’t really do much with another howl of “hypocrite!” or bout of snide laughter, or silent judgment.
The world could use some folks on their knees in prayer and on their feet in love… the world could use a fresh perspective on things.
toddthomas.net 
September 6, 2007 at 4:10 am
Well written Todd, another quote on this subject similar to yours came from Bill Clinton today – who obviously himself had been through a very similar fire:
“Well, first of all, I think we ought to recognize that this is a very traumatic time for him and his family. And whatever happens or doesn’t, most of his political career was behind him. So whatever your party, we should be hoping that he and his family can work through this in a way that leaves them as whole as possible. I think that that is more important than the politics of this…”
September 6, 2007 at 10:53 am
Wow, nice quote! Thanks for sharing that, Tim.
I was put to the test yesterday as I awoke to find the news that he was maybe not retiring. I was thinking, “Great, the circus just came back to town!” But, my obligation to pray shouldn’t hinge on an annoyance factor, right? Oh, may God smile on us all…
September 7, 2007 at 12:20 am
That interview with Clinton was really great, I thought he displayed the exact kind of grace and forgiveness toward a man who really put him through hell when he had gone through what he did. For him to say what he said (clinton) should be an example to us all on how we should live toward those who hurt us, rather than putting Craig down and hurting him (as Craig did to him) he took the higher road. Awesome.