Pilate, wanting to release Jesus, addressed them again; but they
kept shouting, "Crucify him, crucify him." (vv. 20-21)
GOD AND COUNTRY
The "M" part of Texas A&M
University is prominent all over campus. Before a football game,
formation after formation of uniformed student military units march
around in the stadium. A&M is very big on traditions – one of which is
midnight yell practice. It is a huge pep rally, attended by some
30,000 students and fans. The band plays, yell leaders cheer and
speakers reinforce the certainty of victory.
The night I was there, A&M University President Robert Gates was
the grand finale following a pack of motivational speakers. It was very apparent
he was the crowd’s favorite. He ascended center stage at about 1 a.m. that cool
November night and spoke of his many years at A&M. He earnestly regarded it as
the best job he ever had and that he ever could have. His sincerity was very
apparent; his genuine affection was returned by thousands in the crowd.
After 5 or 10 minutes of praising A&M generally and the football
team in particular, Dr. Gates announced that he had resigned to become the
nation’s Secretary of Defense. The crowd stilled; grownups cried.
Dr. Gates said he thought a long time about the request to
serve, but concluded that he really didn’t have a choice. His country needed
him. He was the man for the job. He expected the task to be difficult (an
understatement) but in the end his duty to country decided the issue. Even at
his most optimistic, Dr. Gates, a former Wichitan, had to know that he was
facing an impossible task. Although he is free of the baggage of why and whether
the United States should be in Iraq, he couldn’t with any believability recite
the usual "we will be victorious" pep rally slogans. In all likelihood, he will
fail. Either we will stay without winning or we will leave without winning. Yet,
he accepted the job. It was his duty.
Heavenly Father, grant me the wisdom to discern your call and
the fortitude to accept – even when the task is difficult or success
seems unlikely.
Keith Martin
