A Few Days after Easter

Why do so many follow Jesus? His church is under renewed attack. What is it about this man that builds faith in so many?

He was a good man. He led a simple life. We know little about most of his years. He cared for his Mother and had time for the poor and the discarded and the indigent. He did not seem to think all that well of the leaders of his religion and did have conflicts with them. He paid little attention to the rulers; dismissing their antics as temporal. He was obedient to his Father. He saw and forgave the weakness of others. And, he apparently spoke sometimes in mysterious ways. And, 2000 years later, so many of us follow him and his example and promise of hope.

In Augusta, Georgia there is a group of men who maintain an annual tradition and this week happens to be their time. Over the past months there has been a side show based on one of the golfers off course failings. The hoopla has captured an undue amount of the fleeting media interest that now passes as journalism and public interest in our land. The group’s leader spoke to the issue briefly and very succinctly. “He has disappointed us all.” “We at Augusta hope and pray that our great champion will begin his new life here tomorrow in a positive, hopeful and constructive manner, but this time, with a significant difference from the past.” And the comment that really captured the moment for TheFundamentals, "I hope," Payne said, "he now realizes that every kid he passes on the course wants his swing, but would settle for his smile."

…would settle for his smile. That’s pretty powerful stuff.

In Washington DC yesterday, in what passes as inquisition and responsibility and accountability in this inbred community on the banks of the Potomac, the man who oversaw the deterioration of the financial condition of America's largest banks and investment companies as well as the threatened destruction of the worlds entire confidence based financial system (or at least so they said) sat in the dock and faced his inquisitors. He ducked, dodged and defended and deflected his way until the lights went out. Now, please remember, this man was given everything any mere mortal could expect in the way of praise, support, accolades, budget, staff, public microphone and time and, one other thing, responsibility. He was responsible for the safety of America’s banks and the stability of the financial system. It was his job. He not only failed, his failure was accompanied by more material consequence than anything in recent memory. No current leader said, “He has disappointed us all.” No replacement leader has set a course “with a significant difference from the past.”

The deficits double and triple. The debt increases geometrically. The silly media clamor about. No one demands real standards except for a few fellows in the eastern hills of Georgia who strive to keep their game's standards intact. On the banks of the Potomac the lights go out and the minions gather to reflect on one more day’s passage with little concern for the self discipline needed to provide “a new life tomorrow (based on) a positive, hopeful and constructive manner.”

And the message of hope of one Man lasts and lasts.