Thursday, November 22, 2007

A Unique Endorsement

I had to have my car worked on this past week. While sitting in the dealership waiting for my name to be called, I sat chatting with a woman. The television flashed an advertisement for Professional Wresting and she commented to me that her grandkids “love that stuff.” Over the years I have had many friends who loved it too. My dad watched it regularly and so did other family members. I recall Saturdays when the entire schedule was centered upon “when wrasslin’ was comin’ on.” In fact, years later, a college friend won tickets on a radio contest and I, along with three other guys, went with him to sit at ringside. The history of wrestling has evolved from fat chubby guys with no athletic prowess to today’s behemoth, muscle-bulging power-lifters. Styles have changed and most guys have come and gone, but one thing has remained the same… Ric Flair.
Ric Flair has been a part of pro wrestling since I first saw it in the 70’s. He went from young star to multi-time champion. He has been around for so long and is so well known that this week I saw his name listed in the politics section of the newspaper. You see, this past week “The Nature Boy” Ric Flair threw his weight around once more. Only this time he was not in the ring - he was endorsing a political candidate, former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee. First I was shocked that it made such news. It was one of those moments when I thought, “What… you mean Hulk Hogan wasn’t available?” Why would a candidate for political office want a pro wrestler not only endorsing his campaign, but also stumping in the state of South Carolina. (Maybe he’ll get Steve Austin, for Texas?) First of all, if you weren’t aware, wrestling is fake! What does that say about such an endorsement?
It reminds me of the story in 1 Samuel 8. The people of Israel wanted a king. The prophet Saul went to God and asked for a king. God wanted to remain their king, but the people insisted that God was not sufficient and they wanted to be like other nations with a king. So, Saul found a handsome man who looked like a great king and Samuel chose him as king. He was a terrible king! The next king, God himself chose. In 1 Samuel 16, God tells Samuel to go find Jesse and his sons; from this family he would find the next king. Samuel thinks that surely the oldest and handsomest must be the chosen one, but God says “No.” Each son is examined and each God rejects. Finally Samuel asks Jesse, “Are all your sons here?” David, the youngest and most unlikely is not present and is keeping the sheep. David is the chosen one! He is the one with the heart for God because God judges the heart not the looks of a person. We too must be careful who we choose to be our leaders. Often we look at the outside of a person instead of examining their heart. I think that today it would be virtually impossible for a man like Abraham Lincoln to be chosen President. He was not a handsome fellow.
As for Mike Huckabee, I have no opinion - but what an interesting choice of endorsement in the person of Ric Flair. Don’t get me wrong. I have a very good friend, Tom Butler, who worked in the Charlotte, NC media and is a good friend of Ric Flair. He says that the guy is really nice and not anything like his wrestling character (whooooo!). I see all kinds of folks endorsing the many candidates, including former President Bill Clinton on the late-night television circuit… I wonder who he is endorsing? May I be so bold to suggest that you give every effort to find out a person’s heart, not just what you see on the outside. Samuel learned that lesson with Saul and David. Be it candidates for office or even people who are our friends, God loves us all, but not all love God. We must be wise and follow people who seek God’s will first in their life.

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