Saul, Winston and Other Individuals

It’s a shame about Saul! You know what I mean? Here is a guy who had everything going for him: the right looks; the right height; a kingdom established by a sovereign God; the anointing; even a few short stints prophesying, which turned out genuine enough to puzzle writers about how he should be categorized (Prophet or no?). But then things started to go downhill from there: Saul trying to take on the role of a priest when he wasn’t one; not following directions 100% in the midst of warfare; trying to repeatedly hunt down and kill shepherd-boy Dave, an innocent man; willing to put Jonathan to death over eating a bit of honey, and seeking out witches to help him make major life decisions. It’s just plain sad when you think of it! Isn’t it? He had potential, but his end was inglorious, and his royal line died with him.

We know plenty of stories of individuals who started well, only to fall into infamy: Benedict Arnold, Robert Lundy (the Irish version of Arnold), Martha Stewart, Darth Vader, Gollum… just to name a few. Right? Chapters from history books, media and the fictitious versions of these stories should douse cold water on us. Wake us up! Whisper to us the need to “keep on keeping on” (as GT and the Halo Express so eloquently defined “endurance”). It should remind us to walk in integrity; to love to God; to tidy up those priorities; to keep our minds and hearts set on things that don’t spoil, fade, rot and/or burn.

“Never give up!” Those were the carefully chosen words of Winston Churchill. He used them to encourage his countrymen while earth and buildings were exploding around Great Britain. And how crucial those words are to the weary heart; to those growing weak and weary in the trenches. We’ve come this far, let us not lose hope now; let us not fall victim to the sinister darkness around us.

This is getting a bit preachy, isn’t it? But I preach to myself. My muscles are tired; my heart is sad; I’m at a crawl. But there is a death that comes with halting; with pilgrims who tire of arduous trails. My anemic pace isn’t much, but I take comfort in the fact that there is a certain school for those who are feeling spent. I don’t know what I’m supposed to learn at this place, but I’m guessing it will be an important lesson. After all, I’m all ears if nothing else… and really, I don’t want to share the same fate as Saul.