Today’s
Scripture Reading (July 23, 2019): Psalm
118
A proverb argues that “before you
meet the handsome prince you have to kiss a lot of toads.” The etymology of the phrase is probably relatively contemporary, because
in the original Grimm Fairy Tale of “The Frog Prince” there was no kissing
involved. (Yeah, that surprised me too.) But the problem is that when you are
sitting on the river bank, it is impossible to tell which toad (or frog)
conceals the handsome prince inside.
I have to admit that I feel the same way during
every election season. The easy copout is to vote according to your established
party lines. But recently I have discovered that there are some toads
masquerading as princes who are representing the political parties that I would
generally support. I also have a severe aversion to name-calling and negative
campaigning that seems to be the game plan of many of the populist candidates. And
so I have no choice but to return to the riverbank and begin kissing toads
(figuratively, of course.)
The psalmist argues that it is better to take
refuge in God than to place your trust in the princes or the political leaders
of this world. And part of the problem is the high probability that a political
leader is likely to be a frog pretending to be a prince. But the other problem
is that even the best of leaders is going to have places where they are weak.
And we seem to be unable to overlook the inevitable warts that appear on any of
those who lead us.
God is beyond our weaknesses and political
parties. Our allegiance should never be to a political party, its leaders, or
even to a particular way of thinking; our loyalty can only be to God. And it is
only in him that we can truly find our refuge. And in him, we find the
constants by which we need to be able to live our lives.
Tomorrow’s
Scripture Reading: Psalm 119:1-48
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