BLOG 7/26/19. “A FOOL GIVES FULL VENT TO HIS SPIRIT, BUT A WISE MAN …”

BLOG 7/26/19. “A FOOL GIVES FULL VENT TO HIS SPIRIT, BUT A WISE MAN QUIETLY HOLDS IT BACK” (Proverbs 29:11)

I watched a demonstration of this proverb with fascination on Tuesday at the congressional hearing with special counsel Robert Mueller. The congressional panel tried desperately to get Mueller to “give full-vent to his spirit” … but he did not succumb. Mueller is a man of high principle, who is obviously offended by the president’s actions, lack of ethics, and general demeanor, but he would not take their bate. He, and his colleagues had fulfilled their purpose in doing a significant investigation, … and now the ball was in congress’s court.

In this highly contentious political atmosphere where it is almost routine for the president and for political opponents to “lash out” at those who oppose them, … here sat a wise and gifted figure who could have provided some very self-serving examples of the failures of this presidency, i.e., he could have given “full vent to his spirit”, gotten it off of his chest, and gone off to a quiet retirement. Ah! but Mr. Mueller is no fool. He and his colleagues had fulfilled their appointed purpose, and so all that the congressional inquisitors could get out of him was a yes/no answer as to his opinion of the president’s culpability in the overall investigation.

The congressional panel had before them the massive report that the special investigator’s team had prepared, and they now had sitting before them a wise gentleman, with no intention of “giving full vent to his spirit.” One does wonder what Robert Mueller’s inner thoughts are after sorting through all the evidence. Still, he had given the congress a responsibility that they could not avoid by getting him to give vent to his spirit.

These next months in this country are going to create a political atmosphere in which it is going to be a constant temptation to give full vent to our spirits, and so with the candidates for office. It will be a good discipline to remember the wholesome example we watched on Tuesday. Are there political and ethical misdemeanors committed by politicians? Of course—by the best of them.

I, for one, am grateful for the model of a wise public figure, who knows how to hold back what is not essential to the discussion. And, … I’m thankful afresh for the wisdom of the Proverbs.

[If these Blogs are provocative to you, let me hear from you, … and pass the word along to your friends. Thanks.]

About rthenderson

Sixty years a pastor-teacher within the Presbyterian Church. Author of several books, the latest of which are a trilogy on missional ecclesiology: ENCHANTED COMMUNITY: JOURNEY INTO THE MYSTERY OF THE CHURCH, then, REFOUNDING THE CHURCH FROM THE UNDERSIDE, then THE CHURCH AND THE RELENTLESS DARKNESS. Previous to this trilogy was A DOOR OF HOPE: SPIRITUAL CONFLICT IN PASTORAL MINISTRY, and SUBVERSIVE JESUS, RADICAL FAITH. I am a native of West Palm Beach, Florida, a graduate of Davidson College, then of Columbia and Westminster Theological Seminaries.
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