July 9, 2020.
Good afternoon,
Pompeo on China: "They're incapable of being transparent, of accepting criticism, of allowing reporters to ask them questions that they find uncomfortable."
Mike Pompeo is the United States Secretary of State. He is from Kansas, where he was a Representative for Kansas in the House of Representatives for six years. He served as the Director for the CIA for a few years before becoming the Secretary of State. Mr. Pompeo was appointed by President Trump. He is a graduate of Harvard Law School.
Mr. Pompeo said the above statement as a criticism of the way that China does business with the world, It is his job to look out for the interests of the United States around the world. His statement about the Chinese leadership is so ironic, as I think about what the President and his advisors seem to try to do everyday.
"Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? 4 How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye. Matthew 7:3-5
My world religions teacher, Mr. Stockreef, told us in high school, that when you point your finger at someone, three fingers are pointing at yourself. He told us this after he shared that after the Nazis had surrendered in Holland, the soldiers were marching back to Germany, and one of them wanted a drink of water. As a ten year old boy, Mr. Stockreef, denied that soldier, who was thirsty and starving, any nourishment. You have to be kind and compassionate even when you do not want to be ( my interpretation of Mr. Stockreef's point ). Then he talked about the three fingers.
So, I know I am pointing my finger at Mr. Pompeo. I have to look at the inconsistencies in my own life. The logs in my eyes can be big as well. I think, though, I can call out Mr. Pompeo for not seeing what his own government is doing rather than calling out other parts of the world for their inadequacies. We need to work on our own log house.
Prayer ( regards to Paul in Romans 2 )
I know we should not judge.
We have no excuse, but we do judge people.
We judge their money, their clothes, their children, their attitudes, and
their judgement.
Help us to be aware of our
finger-pointing, all three of them
on ourselves.
So, we may be more open and honest and compassionate .
to others. AMEN.
Fred
Tread on bold new paths !
Fireflies flash the direction
Hope springs eternal Monica Pieper Landoni 2020
Fred Redekop
Pastor
Poole Mennonite Church
Ponder Anew 