Our sweet mother Esther Holmes loved beauty pageants. You know, Miss America, Miss USA, Miss World, Miss South Carolina, Miss Greenville, and all the ones we could watch on local television back in the sixties. Later I learned about Miss Greenville-Pickens Speedway, Miss Pumpkin Festival, and dozens of lesser venues. Beauties all the way. But, I also remember every pageant having Miss Congeniality, the beauty queen who didn't make the finals for looks but was chosen by the other contestants as the kindest, most genuine, friendliest, most well-mannered among the slate. It was almost as prized as the one chosen for her poise and beauty.
Sadly, a lot of voters think congeniality is a prized trait of political candidates. And, yes, I get it. Who of us wouldn't prefer candidates worthy of some pomp and circumstance, decorum fitting our highest offices, people with some bearing. The sad truth is that politics is a dirty business and most of them have earned their way to the ballot through political maneuvering, smoke filled rooms, and brass tacks, if you know what I mean. And, that's become an issue in election 2020! We flinch at people whose actions and life behaviors violate our standards, or those promoted by the media. Perhaps we should remember that we're not electing Miss Congeniality here. They're not all squeaky clean, sinless humans. Then again, neither are we. We've all got a little dirt in our past. Maybe even in our present too.
That's one of the reasons we have to look beyond them to their party platforms, positions on the issues, and ideals below the surface. Honestly, President Trump and Senator Biden both give me the creeps morally and ethically. If these two men are our nations best I shudder. Then again, we're not electing a priest or prophet, a person who's lived in a closet, or Miss Congeniality. Our President will have to take strong stands against our enemies, display personal strength in the halls of Congress, and deal with the media, a daily ordeal. Somewhere under all that reality there must be some traits that enable them to lead our nation.
So, here they are, Joe Biden, Mr. Congeniality, the U.S. Senator for forty seven years with little on the accomplishment side, and Mr. Trump, President of these United States for four years, and successful billionaire entrepreneur for many more. You know, Mr. Congeniality on the empty Democrat party, and Mr. Get It Done representing the Republicans. One is about smiles, good looks, and good feeling, the congenial path of feel good politics. The other is about promise, results, and production for the common good of the American people.
My Christian worldview isn't about looking or talking good. Let's be clear. None of us knows what is in the heart of our candidates, any of them. That's a God thing to be sure. There is, however, the reality of those who are shallowly congenial, and those who keep their promises and perform beyond a smile. In my Christian worldview it is the tension between saying and doing, the niceties of words against the reality of making it happen.
Pay attention to Scripture---
Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.
1 John 3: 18, ESV
But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his
stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on
the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.”
1 Samuel 16: 7, ESV
As we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the
things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.
2 Corinthians 4; 18, ESV
It's a big deal friends! We're not electing Miss Congeniality. We're electing the leader of the free world! Talking a good game isn't the deal here.
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