Soul Snack 225/12 ... The Ancients & Roosevelt

In classical tradition the ancients had four good wishes:

Justice,
Prudence,
Temperance and
Fortitude.

Contrast these to Teddy Roosevelt's altruism.

On January 6th 1941 President Roosevelt very deliberately explained the fourfold gifts that he wished to give to this world.

Roosevelt summed up his gifts as:

Freedom of speech and expression
Freedom for all to worship God individually
Freedom of all from want
Freedom of all from fear.

Yet all Roosevelt was able to give was America's entry into WWII on 7/12/1941. His desire to bless quickly morphed into burden - he failed. He was impotent.

However in a world torn apart through selfishness, those ideals too were insufficient. The ancients had no more chance of changing this world - of adding everlasting good to it, than Roosevelt.

But God is not impotent, and does not fail. At that first Christmas, God gifted this world with His Son.

Painfully this world too has not changed, as with the innkeeper there remains no place for Jesus even on His birthday.

BUT God has not changed and He continues to seek an 'inn' for His Son.

God still stands where no other leader has ever gone nor can ever go because Christmas is omnipotence wrapped in the bonds of my own fragile humanity. (Italics - quote from Brennan Manning)

While they were there (Bethlehem), the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. (Lk 2: 6-7)

Today's Soul Snippet:

"That which is to give light must first endure burning." anon.