Thought for the Week
"With malice toward none; with charity for all; with firmness in the right, as God gives us to see the right, let us strive . . . to bind up the nation’s wounds."

Abraham Lincoln
Second Inaugural, March 4, 1865
 
Book Review

Grant;
by Jean Edward Smith,
Simon & Schuster, 2001.

In my continuing journey through great biographies, I hit the high-water mark with this one. Smith’s life of U.S. Grant is as majestic as it gets. And it is so meticulously and thoroughly researched, that it’s hard to imagine anyone improving upon it. This is a “must-read” for every American.

Ulysses S. Grant is one of the most complex figures in American history. The story of his life combines pathetic failure and world fame. He was the magnificent commander of the world’s most powerful army, made Lincoln’s dream of preserving the Union possible, and was twice elected President of the United States with overwhelming majorities. Yet he was incompetent in personal financial matters, at times drank heavily, and his presidency has been belittled by most historians—unfairly, as will be seen after reading this book. As President, Grant fought for black equality long after his countrymen had tired of “the Negro question.” He defended the rights of African-Americans in the South with the same tenacity that held the Union line at Shiloh. He was a man ahead of his time—or FOR his time—like Lincoln.

When you look at photographs of Grant, there is a profound sadness in his eyes. Those eyes have seen the most horrific images any person has ever witnessed. But it’s not just the bloodshed that he witnessed, but the continuing racial hatred of so many Americans. The Civil War may have ended slavery, but it gave birth to Segregation, and when that was no longer government sponsored, more sinister forms of racism evolved. Grant saw the embedded bigotry in his fellow countrymen, and that is a contributing factor to the sadness in those haunting eyes.

After he was nominated to be the Republican candidate for President in 1868, he wrote a formal letter accepting the nomination, and closed with a plea: “Let us have peace.” That peace he was longing for was part of a dream. He worked harder than most to see it become a reality. And this book shows us the greatness that was U.S. Grant.

"The Waiting Game"

Have you ever served on a jury? Well I haven’t, but it’s getting closer for me! As I type this, I’m sitting in the jury lounge at the San Diego County Courthouse building in Vista, California, awaiting instructions. For the first time in all the years that I’ve been summoned for jury duty, I had my name called today, and boy, do I feel special.

Actually, I don’t know whether to be excited or apprehensive. A cousin, who will remain nameless, told me that of all the things he has detested in his life, serving on a jury was at the top of the list! At the other end of the ledger, the pleasant lady who spent an hour reciting instructions to us from the podium earlier today, says that this is one of the most wonderful contributions that we can make to society, and we should feel privileged to serve our country in this manner.

At first blush it seems to me that there is a certain aura of basic democracy in this process. Citizens are asked once a year to make themselves available for jury duty. It’s a level playing field. Yet, as I glance around, I don’t see any exceptional people in the room. Where are the millionaires and society favorites and philanthropists who dominate the photographs in San Diego Magazine? I saw no $100,000 vehicles in the parking lot (not even $50,000 SUV’s). Are the rich & famous exempt from this patriotic act?

I’m still happy to serve if called upon. Someone must uphold the principle that one is “innocent until proven guilty.” I’ve seen the movie “12 Angry Men,” and other movies about the jury process. It’s a dirty job, but someone’s got to do it! Maybe I’ll serve on a jury that is deliberating a world famous case, perhaps involving some movie star!

More likely, I’ll be sent home with nothing to show for my time spent here, except the knowledge that I was happily willing to serve. All of this is going through my mind as I wait for instructions. Waiting seems to be a large part of this jury selection process.

When I was growing up Adventist I was taught that someday I would serve on a heavenly tribunal, “judging the wicked.” The Adventist doctrine of the millennium suggests a one thousand year period where the righteous (that’s me) will sit on “thrones,” pouring over individual cases. It wasn’t impressed upon me that we will spend the entire 1,000 years doing this, however. There’s got to be some down-time for golf, restaurants, vacations, etc.

But we will be doing some court-room work in heaven. It doesn’t sound fair, however, since the deck is definitely stacked against the accused (judging the “wicked”). Since we already know they are “the wicked,” how can they get a fair trial? Maybe I’ll volunteer to be a court-appointed public defender, and try to get the “wicked” a fair trial.

Anyway, the thought of doing this during the millennium doesn’t excite me! Of course, one could always interpret the relevant biblical passages in a more “symbolic” way. What if “judging” means that we will have plenty of time to re-evaluate all that we—and the planet—have been through. Does God get to be judged? If so, then I expect to go through reams of evidence (and plenty of video-tape) before coming to a conclusion.

This is all speculation, of course. Even some future “millennium” is speculation. But speculating is what I have time for right now. And don’t you think it’s kind-of fun to play with the ideas of reward and punishment? Actually, I hardly ever spend time thinking about these matters. Only when I’m waiting in a jury lounge.


Pastor Gary

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