Saturday, March 15, 2008

Despise the Shame

Watching the all the video clips of Eliot Spitzer's public statements, we couldn't help but watch his wife, Silda Wall Spitzer. (Jim Lehrer's Newshour had a piece on her last night.)

First you think, "What was he thinking?"

Then you remember why you're a Calvinist. Total depravity, etc. And why that's good news. And why we pray, "And there is no health in us. But thou O Lord, have mercy upon us, miserable offenders." If we can't get down to saying that, we can't live free.

And then, you think about the obvious courage, class, and dignity of Silda Wall Spitzer. She reminded me of that phrase in the old translation of Hebrews 2:12, "despising the shame and enduring the cross." What power and strength that takes.

How classy Jesus must have been. "Looking to Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the sake of the joy that was set before him, endured the cross, and despised the shame."

3 comments:

Cotton Wool & Silk said...

THAT is wise and kind comment~

James Brumm said...

Thanks, Daniel.

From My Heart said...

Well I don't know what is in Silda Spitzer's mind. I do think she has a strength though.

What do we now make of our new Governor and his wife and their revelations? What are we supposed to do with that? Where is the shame? Or is just coming clean with this the point? What is the meaning of the timing?

Too much information.

Jane