History Lessons

Did you know every two-term president since Nixon has been associated with some cover-up or scandal in his second term?

          I asked my wife, “Which scandal is Obama connected with?”

          Ellen said, “Take your choice. They’re blaming him for everything.”

          First of all, this isn’t an indictment of Obama and his administration.

          Secondly, the recent NPR broadcast which made me aware of the second-term presidential troubles got me to thinking. So much history has happened in our lifetimes, and we of the McDonald’s-discount-coffee age have observed it unfolding.

          Quick presidential scandal test to prove my point.

          I’ll give you a line. You give me the president who comes to mind.

          Iran-Contra

          “I did not have sexual relations with that woman.”

          Weapons of Mass Destruction

          “I’m not a crook.”

          How’d you do?

          Great, I’m sure.

          Why?

          Because the lines didn’t stumble out of the pages of a history book. They leapt from the newspaper headlines, radio speakers, and television screens from our living past.

          As I listened to NPR’s program, I came to Solomon’s conclusion about life. “There’s nothing new under the sun.”

          And therein is the advantage of these gray hairs.

          I gain perspective on current events because I have reference points from the past.

          I’m reminded of something I said last month to another vintage player on my softball team. Prior to our conversation, I had beaten out a throw to first, but the youthful first-base ump called me out.

          I said to my friend, “There was a time when that would have really bothered me.”

          The call didn’t upset me because experience tells me—from t-ball to the Majors—bad calls happen.

          And, as NPR reminded me this week, so do presidential scandals—whether real or imagined.

I’m curious as to what history lessons, scandal-laced or not, you’ve learned over the years.

T. Neal Tarver, a native Texan living in Wisconsin, has served churches in Texas and Wisconsin. He, his wife Ellen, and son Daniel lived and worked for three years as missionaries in the Russian Far East. Tom speaks enough Russian to both converse and confuse.

In 2011, Tom was selected as a semi-finalist in the American Christian Fiction Writers’ Genesis contest. He’s also been a two-time winner of MBT’s “Make Every Word Count Flash Fiction” contest. His debut novel, Dark Eyes, Deep Eyes, is available through WestBow Press, Amazon, BARNES & NOBLE, and other retail outlets.

He currently writes from his home in Richland Center, Wisconsin, and serves as the pastor of three rural Wisconsin churches. He posts articles at his website,  A Curious Band of Others, and is a regular contributor to Geezer Guys and Gals.

Tom has spoken in churches across America, and in Europe, Asia, and the Middle East.