First of all, can we just say that this whole pillow fight thing that replaced cram the car for homecoming this year was just dumb? Because it was. Moving along…
Peter:
I got to see the governor! Governor Pawlenty was at The most intriguing thing she said was that she made a statement ‘it’s about our life of service’ in reference to a quotation from Rick Warren she had minutes prior spoken: ‘it’s not about us.’ I guess my question would be how in the world does that make sense? First of all ‘it’ is wholly ambiguous. What’s not about us, and how is ‘it’ about our life of service, and how does that fit into the context of her talk about our trust and walk with God? Now I’ve heard it said, and it makes fairly plain sense the statement: ‘it’s not about us, it’s about God.’ But never had I heard the claim that ‘it’s not about us; it’s about our life of service.’ Now to be fair, Rick Warren goes on to say it’s about God using us for His purposes, so in the sense that our life of service is God using us for His purposes, it is actually about our life of service. Maybe I just answered my own question, maybe not. But if anybody can tell me what the proverbial ‘it’ is, and why ‘it’ is always about something, and maybe even if I’m conceited by thinking that ‘it’ could very well be about us. I mean, we were created by an almighty God, and we are infinitely less than said God, but did God create me so that He could feel loved or so that I could feel loved? Or none of the above. In fact, God’s creation has always kind of stumped me. Why? And don’t give me the glory of God crap, I want a reason for the fact that six and a half billion of us are wandering this little planet of ours. Were we created to judge the angels? Were we created because God is a creative God and we just happened to be the fallout of His creativeness? Were we created for the advancement God’s kingdom, created as soldiers for His army? Are we created to care for the creation, in which case what’s the point of creation? It’s long been an intriguing question for me.
Tim:
I came within three feet of Governor Pawlenty today. It was awesome because first of all, he’s awesome and second, his name is Tim. He was here because his wife spoke. She spoke last year and was great. She is a Bethel
Anyway, I was very excited to hear Mary Pawlenty. Like Peter said, it was somewhat disappointing that chapel was basically over by the time she talked. It makes sense, because it was a chapel honoring her as alumnus of the year, not as a guest speaker. I didn’t realize that going in, but it was still good to hear her. She told us about her path to where she is, saying essentially that she goes through life with “open hands.” I liked hearing that, even though I’ve heard it before. Somehow, when she says it, I hear it more. Maybe because she readily acknowledged that she had no idea what she was doing when she was my age, and neither do I.
Regarding what “it” is, I figured it was just life. Our lives aren’t about us. I think that’s what she was trying to say. Maybe our reason for existence is to somehow be an embodiment of God’s love. Maybe that’s all and maybe that’s enough. I don’t know if that’s orthodox or not, but I can’t imagine it’s a too terrible a thought.
I don’t really have that much to say about today, otherwise. My favorite part of the whole chapel was when she told us that when her husband told her he was considering running for governor, she laughed at him. She was sure he’d lose and they’d get to return to regular life. Now, he’s been the governor for like seven years. And he’s the best ever. After chapel, I stood and waited for them to walk out so that I could say I saw him in person. He passed within in a couple feet of me. This is my new claim to fame.
Ever consider that the reason Mary Pawlenty gets to speak at Bethel is because it's good PR for us? In this economic slump it's always a good idea to honor a "celebrity" in front of the donor base who comes for homecoming.
ReplyDeleteEver consider that the reason the Governor was here might have been to prime the donor base for his own Presidential run, and NOT to see his wife?
I appreciate that they didn't make a big deal about the Governor being there, in fact I don't know if they even mentioned it...but still, everybody knows.
I like Mary, and I like Tim (as a human being. I won't get into politics), but do you think that there are other "unsung heros" who could have been chosen? People who nobody has ever heard of who are doing wonderful acts of service in our world--like missionaries, for example. Or people serving in the Peace Corps. Or somebody who has dedicated their life to simple living and service to their neighborhood.
Mary Pawlenty wasn't a bad choice, but it WAS predictable. Yippee. We get to hear from the Governor's wife again. Would she have been chosen if she WASN'T the governors wife? Would she ever speak at Bethel if she wasn't a celebrity and wasn't on the Board?
Just a thought...
i too like tim pawlenty, and i won't get into politics either suffice it to say i don't know him personally...
ReplyDeletebut it's a good thought to be sure, and i completely agree with you. and i'll be honest with you, no, she would not have been chosen to speak lest she were in the position she is in.
that being said, i actually thought along similar lines during the chapel, although i was thinking more how we think being governor or whatever is a privilege, where ideally, i think, it should be viewed as a service, with our leaders being so as servants.
if you see it as the governor serving the populace then i see nothing less honorable and commendable about being governor than being a missionary and/or peace corps person.
furthermore, if you think about it, we do hear more from missionaries, pastors, civil servants, and all sorts of great people waaaay more often than we hear from the governor or his wife. that's not to say it's a little suspicious we would have her speak when it's homecoming, but still, on average we hear from the people you are espousing as dedicating their lives to service of their neighbor, although like i mentioned a bit earlier, if you view government the way i view it, the governmental leaders, whether or not they live up to it, are theoretically dedicating themselves to the service of their communities, on whatever level.
finally, it's the way we want it to be. high-profile people are asked to speak only because people listen. there are a great many people in this world, and to listen to all of them is not only impractical, it's impossible. the names we know and recognize therefore, are those who we turn our attention, right or wrong, to. the reason politicians are such contentious people isn't because they are saying something that other people aren't saying, it isn't because politicians are people different from other people, it's because they are visible to the public, and therefore the public hears their words more than that of their neighbor's friend's relative which lives the next town over who is saying the same things with greater clarity but who happens to be an electrician, not a politician. so is it right that Mary speak merely because she happens to be in the spotlight? it depends on how you view it, but if you view it as wrong, who's really to blame? Bethel or the audience?
in conclusion, i thank you for your thoughtful questioning, and know that i'm right there with you, and Lord knows i wish to hear from a missionary any day of the week, but i would weigh in all the contributing factors, to then turn around and say simply, regardless of who is speaking, or why they are speaking, how they are speaking, where they are speaking, or who they are speaking to, i would say that there is value in considering the merit of what was or wasn't spoken for what it was or wasn't. (not to neglect the importance of a holistic review however, i must say that considering all the factors besides what was said is a valuable endeavor as well, which can characterize what was said in various and enlightening ways) really, there are pages and pages of things i could write about in agreement and response to your thoughtful comment, but for the sake of my homework i shall cut it short here, and encourage perhaps more discussion of the issue at a further date.
and just a note to tim's comment: i'm not saying that God didn't create us for his glory, or that we're created as an embodiment of his love, i guess what i'm really asking is how that is done, what our roles in those ultimate ends are
ReplyDeleteI see I'm a little behind. I certainly agree, it is probably good PR to have them here, and that's probably a motivation for doing so (though I sincerely doubt it's the only one). I guess I don't really have a problem with the idea of having a speaker here who duals as good PR, or even if part of the reason they're here is to gain support.
ReplyDeleteThere's no denying that a lot of the speakers who come are here in part to, say, promote their latest book or ministry. Indeed, they often sell their materials outside Benson. I don't think that disqualifies them as honest and heartfelt speakers. I still respect what they have to say even though I know they are hitting two birds with one stone, so to speak. They are promoting their ministry. I guess I have no problem with Mary, Tim and Bethel doing the same.
Finally, I think you bring up an interesting point about honoring someone who has dedicated their life to simple service. I find that interesting because that's exactly the person I see in Mary Pawlenty. Her life's work has not been about fame or glory but about trying to uphold justice in her community and helping her neighbors, veterans in particular. I believe God has used her position to allow her to minister to more people than she could have otherwise. It is for that, not for her position, that she has my utmost respect.
I don't know which year it was, but one of my years here, the alumnus of the year was, in fact a missionary who had served with my parents' mission (I'm pretty sure, at least). I was super excited to see a missionary recognized in that way, because I feel like career missionaries are so often ignored. I guess I just respect Mary because I see her as little else than a missionary to our state.
amen
ReplyDeletemissionary to our state? hmmm
ReplyDeleteI guess you're right. Politicians are in someway servants to the state, to their community, whatever.Usually it doesn't start out as a power-trip.
ReplyDeleteMight I mention that your blogpost is titled 'The Governor's Wife". Interesting. I don't have time to extrapolate on this now...
"The Governor's Wife" sounded more dramatic than anything else I could think of... I promise it's that simple :)
ReplyDeleteI fixed it
ReplyDeleteno you didn't! It's still the fact that she's married to the Governor, and THAT's why she's a celeb. ;)
ReplyDeletei didnt fix it
ReplyDelete