When Opportunity Knocks

By Dena Fox

While reading Laura Ingalls Wilder’s Little House books to my daughter a few years ago, I came across a pithy piece of wisdom I have since remembered:

“Least said, soonest mended,” Ma said.

Having found occasion to regret making thoughtless comments myself, I have discovered that this is good advice – advice that might serve Governor Palin in situations such as her recent interview with Larry King when she was asked about her reaction to unwed teenaged daughter Bristol’s pregnancy.

Least said, soonest mended.

For some reason, instead of declining to comment, Palin actually expanded the theme, going so far as to suggest that Bristol “has an opportunity . . . to reach out to other young American women.”

Maybe she was unprepared for the question, but I think no one was prepared for Palin’s answer, which predicted Bristol was “going to be just fine, going to be a great mom,” praised Bristol as “strong and kindhearted,” and suggested this was an opportunity for Bristol “reach out” and “help other women.”

According to her mother, young Bristol, apart from completing her education and preparing for baby, should now also seek a national platform to “let (young women) know that these are absolutely less than ideal circumstances that she or any other unwed teenage mother are in and it is not something to glamorize, it is not something to condone, if you will.”

I’m not sure I understand how that’s going to work, but perhaps a better answer would have been simply, “That’s personal.”

Although her daughter’s outreach future may or may not pan out, the comment finally gives me a clue as to how she understands the mysterious “open door” she’s talked about, and the reason she and I saw her decision to accept the nomination for vice president so differently. She saw it as an opportunity not to miss; I, as a Christian, saw it as a temptation to resist.

Just because there is an opportunity does not mean that you should take it. Months ago, I could not understand how the Christian mother of a young family in obvious need of attention could willingly bump it to priority number two. Now, I do not know exactly how parenting in the Palin household works or how involved Dad is, but I do know that every minute on a TV screen means hours away from being ‘just Mom.’

I am starting to understand that the confusion starts with Palin’s faith. This week, she’s expressed that she doesn’t want to miss an open door, that’s what she prays for.

The problem with this is that is a difference between an opportunity and temptation. The call to the vice presidency Palin perceived to be from God did not pan out. The call to parenthood remains. It should by now be clear where wisdom lies.

Jesus consistently fled fame and glory. Seeking personal glory was one of three temptations Christ resisted, and even when unjustly accused, Christ refused to defend himself but went the way of the cross.

And yet, even this week, Palin is taking every opportunity to pursue more media attention, defending herself and reiterating accusations against the president elect that are best forgotten.

Christians are instructed to seek not the open door, but the narrow way. Palin’s confusion is finally clear to me in the off the cuff suggestion that her daughter’s situation, which should give the entire family pause, reflection and repentance, is for Palin an opportunity and a potential soapbox. This kind of thinking reveals serious confusion about what it means to be a Christian.

The Christian life is not about unblinkingly plowing through every opportunity. The Christian life requires discernment.

Dena Fox is a writer who lives in Wasilla, Alaska

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Thou Shalt Not Bear False Witness
written by icarus, November 20, 2008

I completely agree with your article and noticed the same myself. However, Palin's litany of non-Christian behaviour goes well beyond only that described in your article. Palin started her national career with outright lies at the Republican National Convention. Her lie about "Thanks, but no thanks to the Bridge to Nowhere" being the most obvious. She also wrongly insulted community organizers, which Jesus epitomizes. She, herself, epitomizes a type of hypocritical "Christian" that is, unfortunately, common.

...
written by ba, November 17, 2008

With all due respect Dena as one believer to another ...........God does not differentiate between our public and private personas.

His final judgement of us will be based on our actions.

With regards to discerning whether people are in the faith or not this is a Scripture I have always loved:

Jesus said: "A good healthy tree cannot bear bad worthless fruit, nor can a bad diseased tree bear excellent fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and cast into the fire. Therefore, you will fully know them by their fruits .....not everyone who says to me Lord, Lord will enter the Kingdom of Heaven ........only those who do the will of my Father.

Back to PaulG
written by Dena Fox, November 17, 2008

First, I am the author. (You noted below I was putting words into the author's mouth.)

Second, I write not to judge Palin (consider: what is the difference between judging and discerning?) but as a defender of the faith. I do not consider it inappropriate to write in correction of public statements that include misguided references to the Christian faith. The article above was never about working women but about understanding that we do not pursue God's kingdom by looking for opportunity, exposure or advancement but by prayerfully discerning not only how we might best serve but what calling God has already placed on our lives. Constancy is an old-fashioned word, but if we believe God is faithful and hope to reflect Him, we need to be faithful to those pre-existing circumstances and to take them into serious account prior to seeking new opportunities. Palin's comments and references to her faith are potentially misleading and it is with those comments that I take issue, not with Palin as an individual -- there is, I assume, a difference between the public Palin and the private Palin. As of yet, I do not know the private Palin; if I did, I would certainly not betray that trust. The public Palin, however, is fashioned to inspire commentary (hopefully praise). That is the nature of publicity.

...
written by ba, November 15, 2008

Paul G:

You are putting words into the Author's mouth. That is not what she meant.

Dena, you are absolutely correct. I as a Christian fully agree with you and would go even further.

Christians are not to slander others. In fact Jesus said in the Book of Matthew Chapter 5: 21-23 "But I say to you that everyone who continues to be angry with his brother or harbors malice (enmity of heart) against him ................." You all can read the rest.

The gist of the passage is that we are not in any way to speak negatively about others and certainly not behind their backs. If you have any grievance with your brother you are supposed to hash it out with him to his face. That is one of the many commandments of Jesus. We as Christians are told that obeying His commandments shows that we love Him. Not simply calling his name, attending a church or telling others that we know Him.

Ms. Palin had alot against Pres. Elect Obama. She jumped to conclusions, quite clearly not having been present at the events which she accused him of involving in wrongdoing.

Further, she allowed large crowds of people to harbour hateful, hostile and divisive thoughts about him which remain to this day and have caused him much anxiety and grief due to the many death threats. She did her best to assassinate this man's character.

Ms. Palin has done a MASSIVE disservice to the name of Christianity. People all over the world will look at her behaviour and not knowing Jesus will believe that that is how Christians behave.

She will have to answer for all of this and much more to the same God that she continually invokes. I trust she is ready.

Women in leadership
written by Dena Fox, November 15, 2008

My comments do not intend to suggest that women, Christian or otherwise, are wrong to work but that the first priority of parents is to assure the well-being of offspring. That so many families are forced to seek two incomes in order to secure housing and health insurance is not cause for criticism but signs of troubled times. Many of those families would keep one parent home if they could.

When income is not an issue, it's clear that children are best off with a parent caregiver. Again, I don't know how the Palin household functions, but I have heard nor seen any evidence that Todd Palin planned to excuse himself from his demanding commitments in light of his wife's. The issue is not working women but responsible parenting. Having kids demands a sacrifice on somebody's part. Some would say that the kids are worth it. As for women in leadership, I myself have been in leadership and have known many remarkable women in leadership as well. One such remarkable woman is Michelle Obama, who has apparently put her own ambitions on the backburner to give her children a proper upbringing. Sometimes the most remarkable leadership is the willingness to put something so thankless and void of glamor as parenthood first.

Really?
written by JimAK1, November 15, 2008

This column reminds me of one of my favorite songs by Kinky Friedman and His Texas Jewboys: 'Get Your Biscuits in the Oven and Your Buns Into Bed.

...
written by Paul G, November 15, 2008

Let me first say that I am not a big Palin supporter, but I am confused by these types of comments. According to this view, does this automatically exclude all mothers from the political arena because it would take them away from their families? Does this mean that they cannot work outside the home without being a good Christian? Or that God only uses males or unmarried females as leaders? Or that Dads aren't capable of being the primary caregivers while Mom works? Or that when men seek to answer the call to leadership it's OK, but when women do so they are falling prey to temptation rather than answering God's call and serving a higher purpose. When you think about it, this attitude is a throwback to the time when women weren't accorded the same rights as men. God has used women leaders throughout history, so let's move past the notion that women are relegated to being barefoot and pregnant in the kitchen. What we need now is strong conservative leadership, and I don't really care how many X chromosomes that leader has.

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