Into the Lion's Den We're Thrown (my sermon for activists)
Thu Nov 02, 2006 at 07:17:38 PM PDT
I have been trying to think about how I can make my debut on Street Prophets and today came about a story that I think fits what I've been thinking about. Little did I know that my KOS ID wouldn't work on StreetProphets... so don't I just feel like the tech idiot. So I am going to post it here until I can post there ... which will be in a week.
When you hear the story of Daniel going into the Lion's den you have to wonder if he was standing there thinking to himself... uhhhh... maybe this isn't such a good idea after all.
While many of you might not remember this story from your childhood bible studies I shall refresh you. Ya see.. there's this king and this king is newly appointed and he puts Daniel and a couple of other guys in charge of the government stuff ... kinda like majority leader and minority leader. Well Daniel works his ass off and stays faithful to the king despite the fact that everyone around him who also works with him tries to convince the king that Daniel is a loser. But Daniel knows that what he is doing is right and true so he keeps plugging along and doing the best job he can. So the King wants to promote him to essentially run the whole show - kinda like Speaker of the House - controls the docket and the agenda.
So the other guys are pissed and they're going to take Daniel out. So they got the king to pass a law that said that no person can pray to anyone other than the king. This is kinda like President's Day .. or Church with Jerry Johnston and Jerry Faulwell praising Bush. And sure enough Daniel prayed that morning. When the king learned of this he was so disappointed. This was his guy! He thought he was so loyal - so true - how could he go so far to break one of the King's laws!? This scene can be played by this guy:
The law was that any person who defied the king was to be thrown into the lion's den. So the king did pretty much anything he could think of to NOT go through with it - essentially to avoid the whole conflict because he LIKED Daniel and wanted to keep him around... even if for morale. But - the law is the law and the King was The General of the whole deal so he had to enforce it even if it was to condemn someone he loved.
Next morning they come to see if Daniel's been eaten and what do ya know - he's just chillin' right there. The King's like dude... wtf just happened? And Daniel said "God sent his angel to shut the lion's mouths all through the night. God has saved me so that you will know that I am innocent, and I have served you faithfully."
The king's like SWEET because... again.. he liked Daniel and now clearly he knew that it was meant to be that Daniel serve the kingdom.
The story, you see, is designed to encourage children to be faithful and loyal even in the face of crisis and difficulty. Ad Astra Per Aspra - to the stars through difficulty. To remain steadfast in their passion to do the right thing and strive for progress. Keep faith in what you are loyal to - because that faith and loyalty will be recognized in time - even when you don't expect the King has noticed.
It's hard for me to do the right thing often times. I'm easily intimidated and fearful of people who make it a point to diminish those around me or condemn me for my own youth, idealism, pushy and aggressive behavior. And too often I give up because I'm fearful that the general will never believe me or support me. I mean why would they? Who am I, after all? And there is some truth in the people who do seek to diminish me. I'm not brilliant, I'm not the best at what I do, I'm not the ideal person to work with.
But like Daniel we as grassroots activists do have two very strong qualities - we are loyal to those who earn and deserve our loyalty and we work tirelessly for those to which we are loyal.
But, I wonder if at any point Daniel just said... ya know what? It ain't worth it - I am who I am and I can't/won't change that or compromise my ideals. I want to serve you, I want to be loyal to you, and I want to work tirelessly for you and if you don't have faith in me to do that because I broke one of your laws - which by the way is stupid and egotistical to begin with - or maybe we don't meet eye to eye on everything... then maybe this isn't meant to work out. This Oscar goes to the Green Party.
Or do you think at any point Daniel - on the edge of the lion's den ... walking softly so as to not awaken them, said to himself - this was a bad idea. Here I am - going in here with these lions who think whatever they think and will probably tear me to shreds all because I am bound and determined to prove both to my King and to my God that I am the loyal guy that they both thought I was but now suddenly because some third party came in and convinced the king otherwise I'm about to be torn to little munchable pieces for a big kitty's midnight snack? Dude... count me out!
I think we all go into lion's dens both to prove something and too to test our own faith. Sometimes it's the faith in ourselves that we are brave enough to face the music, face our past, face heartbreak, and conquer those who seek to put us down or stir up trouble. God love em .. this roll can be played by the Log Cabin Republicans.
Sometimes it's to prove that we have faith in the king that he will willingly accept us once we've proven our loyalty. And sometimes it's a faith in those around us that they'll not be so easy to judge or convict in unreasonable circumstances.
I think some of us are going into some Lions dens on Election Day. We're going to pray that who we are, what we stand for, and our loyalty to the people will all be enough to help us accomplish the great things we seek to accomplish. Some of us fight giants with stones and slingshots who play dirty tricks and are curiously well supplied with boulders and troops. Others of us defy the king to uphold our beliefs - that award goes to former Attorney General of Kansas Bob Stephan
We've seen them all this cycle -
Debra Bowen who stands for the rights of the voter against a man who has raised twice as much money as she has and pretends that electronic voting is safe and secure as burglars creep in behind him. And the last poll I saw had her several points up!
Nancy Boyda who has gone up against a five term incumbent who is an Olympic silver medalist and has the legs of every right wing evangelical voter marching in behind him. And George Bush is coming out to campaign against her on Sunday... God's day - because Boyda is two points up.
Jennifer Seal, a US history teacher, is running in a district that has never once gone for a democrat since it was created - against a lobbyist who has loaned his campaign 80% of the money they've spent.
Each of them stands in the wake of giants and clever manipulators who whisper into the ears of the King.
And each of them has the commanding spirit and loyalty to their belief in righteousness and justice. And each possesses the grace and honor that I seek in my representatives.
I have spent more money this cycle than ever before. We're talking over $3,000 I contributed to candidates across the country at every level. And I don't make a bunch of money. School board of Kansas, state house, Secretary of State, Attorney General, 7 Congressionals, 2 Senate. I've made over 500 phone calls - either for ID's or to get out the vote, I helped put out 600 damn yard signs, I helped raise an obscene amount of money for several candidates, I wrote blog posts, I emailed PACs, I lobbied and I fought for those that will stand for each of us, I baked cookies to keep up morale, I sent supportive cards and flowers, I email bad puns and jokes to keep things light - and on election day I will stand tall with each of you that fought with me out of loyalty to them.
I am confident that our work will pay off. And then the real work must begin as we all begin to pass our promised policy initiatives and gear up for the 2008 cycle and the 2010 reelection. I'm exhausted. I'm not sleeping well. I'm worn and tired but I am hopeful because we all heard the call to service and we answered it with devoted diligence.
And on Election Day I hope the angels are with us to keep those lion's mouths closed because only then will the people see our loyalty to them.
"And let us not be weary in well-doing, for in due season, we shall reap, if we faint not."
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