Separately, the New York Times reports Mr. Maliki and President Bush have been holding video conferences at least once every two weeks. "In sessions usually lasting more than an hour, Mr. Bush, a committed Christian of Texas by way of privileged schooling in New England, and Mr. Maliki, an Iraqi Shiite by way of political exile in Iran and Syria, talk about leadership and democracy, troop deployments and their own domestic challenges," the Times says, citing an official who has attended the meetings. And sometimes they talk about their faith in God. "It is an issue that comes up between two men who are believers in difficult times, who are being challenged," the official says.
I saw the above quote in the Wall Street Journal yesterday. There probably aren't two men on the planet with more antagonism, pressure and ill-will expressed toward them than President Bush and Prime Minister Maliki these days. Where does a person turn when it seems the world has turned against them? Our faith tends to flourish more under duress than under comfort. We are developed and we are defined by difficulty. I don't know anything about the specifics of their conversations, but I'm touched that "their faith in God" is included. I suppose there comes a time when each of us must realize that if our lives are to count for anything, we must recognize that our prime motivation cannot be to please others or to please ourselves. During our brief stay on planet Earth the only enduring satisfaction will come from drawing our energy from the living God and living for Him, as well. I'm grateful that we have a God who will never turn His back on us, even when it may seem that everyone else has.
Matthew 28:20 "and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
James 1:2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.
John 14:16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever—
blessings,
Rob Smith
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