One of the fringe benefits of sheltering is that often in the afternoon, my husband and I tune in to see another episode of “The Crown.” My husband is British by birth but adopted into a missionary family at two months so raised in Kenya, married American, but is always fascinated with British history. We are on our second time through the three seasons and nearing the end of Season 1.
Young Elizabeth is being asked by her tutor: “There is expedient and dignified. Which are you?” She thinks and responds. “Dignified.” The Crown is dignified and the government is expedient. A theme seems to be running through the series of how the monarchy must be impartial and so Elizabeth’s various roles as monarch, wife, daughter, mother, and human always have some sort of tension going on. The “dignified” (crown) works best with the “expedient” (government) when each party trusts the others and there is good communication. Winston Churchill, in this episode, has two strokes while his foreign ambassador has gall bladder surgery in Boston before an important meeting with Pres. Eisenhower. The info is withheld from the Queen but, of course, she find out. She must give Churchill a “dressing down” like a good British nanny and she uses the quote, “There is the expedient and the dignified. Government and Monarchy. To work well there must be trust and communication.”
Prov. 28:13 read this morning, “He who conceals his sins does not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy.” God is dignified – impartial, representing all sides of humanity at any moment, but also establishes the expedient – the guidelines, laws if you will, that make life work. Churchill stands reprimanded, believing he is still capable of leading Parliament with the Queens “forgiveness.” He backs out and I must run to my computer to read about his life.
Today I ponder our dignified God who is also expedient, above bribery but tasked with making life work for everyone. Whew! I fear our government is neither dignified nor expedient as we now see with this virus. Hence, the role of confession found in Proverbs establishing perhaps the communication that builds trust. I am so glad our God’s ears are always open and I do not have to file petitions through miles of red tape, that the Holy Spirit interprets my prayers when I do not know what to say, and that forgiveness and mercy are always available. I can start today with hope!
On the Way to Wonder 