August 1, 2019 – Click here to listen
A friend of mine who is a local elected official wrote me this morning and said:
“I’ve got a little prayer I say as I walk up the stairs to my office at the county . . . you’re not that smart, you’re not that funny, and you’re not that good looking . . . because the staff tends to be overtly deferentially to elected officials . . . and if you’re not careful you start believing some of that . . . today my prayer is to walk humbly, love my god and spread the word!!! Because as Paul points out . . . when I am weak, I am strong!”
I wrote back:
“They say your funny, smart, and good looking??? Hmmm . . . That’s odd . . . ”
Just a little humor to reinforce what he already knows, that he should remain humble. Most never wake up from their fantasy world and face reality, even long after they leave office, my friend is an exception.
I met one United States Senator in his D.C. office who told the filthiest jokes employing the “F” word and “G-D” numerous times both in his stupid joke and language. All this occurred in front of his mostly young women staff members and he laughed like a hyena. Oddly he was very highly respected on capitol hill and the press had made him one of their darlings.
I’ve met very few politicians who do not fit the pure definition of a narcissist and revel in their own “glory.” This morning I scanned the headlines of the latest Democrat debate. I could not bear to watch it last night or read in-depth articles about it this morning. The headlines this morning told me all I needed to know; it was a nasty narcissist mostly nonsensical fight. You can however, bet that this morning their staff members are all stroking their egos and telling them how wonderful their performance was as they bask in the praise. The rest of the country, at least the ones who can think, are shaking their heads at what was said by the biggest collection of kooks in our country’s history. In Washington D.C. this attitude is referred to as the “Washington bubble” and I am of the opinion that one could say that these politicians are Washington bubbleheads.
Harvey Mackay once said: “Talent is God-given; be humble. Fame is man-given; be thankful. Conceit is self-given; be careful.”
I think the real problem dates back to the very beginning of humanity and is in actuality the sin that got Satan kicked out of heaven and us kicked out of the Garden of Eden – Pride. It is pride that goes before destruction. There is an antidote for pride, and it is humility. Pride makes us artificial and humility makes us real.
My politician friend has the right idea with his prayer he says when he goes to work. Hopefully pastors, celebrities, athletes, CEO’s, and all of us will say the same prayer or maybe one like this: “Talent is God-given; keep me humble. Fame is man-given; Lord keep me thankful. Conceit is self-given; please Lord Jesus help me to be careful. Today my prayer is to walk humbly, love my God and spread the word!!! Because as Paul points out . . . when I am weak, I am strong!”
Amen!
James 4:6
But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.”