James 4:1-3
Where do you think all these appalling
wars and quarrels come from? Do you think they just happen? Think again.
They come about because you want your own way, and fight for it deep
inside yourselves. You lust for what you don’t have and are willing to
kill to get it. You want what isn’t yours and will risk violence to get
your hands on it.
You wouldn’t think of just asking God for it,
would you? And why not? Because you know you’d be asking for what you
have no right to. You’re spoiled children, each wanting your own way.
Scripture
quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002
by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs,
CO. All rights reserved.
Greg and I watched Bridge of
Spies*, a movie about the Cold War and the exchange of a Russian spy
captured by Americans for an American Pilot – and a private citizen who
was doing graduate studies in Eastern Europe. The story was really
about the American attorney, James Donovan (played by Tom Hanks), who
was recruited to negotiate the exchange.
Donovan had been
tapped to defend the Russian spy, Rudolph Abel – to give the public
appearance that Abel received a “fair trial.” However, Donovan took his
job seriously. While public sentiment prevailed - and the judge and
jury found Abel guilty - Donovan was able to persuade the judge to
sentence Abel to prison rather than death. Donovan could foresee the
time when it might be helpful to have a Russian spy who could be
exchanged for an American held captive abroad…and he was right. On
February 10, 1962, Rudolph Abel was exchanged for American U2 Pilot
Frances Gary Powers, and graduate student Frederic Pryor.
The
point of sharing this is to say that the prevailing sentiment was that
Rudolph Abel should be put to death. He had given “our” secrets to the
Russians…and Americans wanted him to pay. People were outraged by the
judge’s decision to imprison Abel instead of executing him…and attorney
James Donovan became nothing short of a pariah. Yet, when Abel was
exchanged for two Americans, Donovan was hailed as a hero. It all came
down to a matter of perspective…and personal desires.
So what
does this have to do with us? We will likely never be involved in
international negotiations involving spies. But we might find ourselves
involved in a discussion at school, church, in the workplace or our
community over this issue or that one. Indeed, we “argue” over
political choices every day…from legislation to candidates to the Bill
of Rights – or even the umpire’s call at our kids’ little league game.
Sometimes we pray for God’s will…and sometimes, we know that our
attitude is such that we dare not mention our desires to God.
In
many ways, we’ve gotten to a point where there are more and more issues
that we know better than to pray about, because we feel certain that God
would hang His head in shame at our selfishness. Our attitudes
represent a lack of love and understanding, compassion and caring for
our fellow man in favor of coddling our own desires – and yes, our
fears. Because we have made no effort to understand another person’s
position, we impose our own view of things – and fight to make it the
norm. And often, the outcomes are messy at best – and potentially
life-changing for some.
Bridge of Spies does not fully examine
James Donovan’s faith and what role it might have played in his
treatment of Rudolph Abel – or his subsequent role in negotiating the
famous exchange of men. But one has to believe that He sought the
counsel of a Higher Power…that He asked God, “What is the right thing to
do here?” Even in the face of threats and personal endangerment,
Donovan looked at a Russian spy as a human being with thoughts,
feelings, and a soul…and treated him accordingly. I have to believe
that he trusted God to mete out justice…and to show him the right way to
conduct himself.
Can we say the same in our daily living? Are
we operating in selfishness and our own desires, fears and
frustrations? Or are we able to say to God, “LORD…I don’t know what is
the right direction to take…but You do. I trust You to show me how to
proceed.” Your decisions might not determine the fate of three men held
captive by opposing forces…but it does matter. Does knowing this in
any way change your thinking? Don’t you think it should?
©2016 Debbie Robus
*Bridge of Spies ~ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3682448/
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