Tuesday, December 4, 2018

What Can We Learn From George H. W. Bush?


Tomorrow, a grateful nation celebrates at the National Cathedral a fallen national leader:  George H. W. Bush.

There's much to learn from the likes of our 41st President.  And I'll get to that shortly.

But first, an acknowledgment:  George H. W. Bush was far from perfect.

After all, he was a politician, and all politicians survive, only through a fair measure of expediency, 'game-playing,' narcissism, shadiness, and 'out-and-out deceit.'

And George H.W. Bush did a lot of such 'stuff,' like all politicians.

For example, an under-reported part of Bush's career was his penchant, over the years, for "...cheerful flirtation and overt fondness for attractive women..." (Jon Mecham.  Destiny and Power, p. 310)  -- other than his wife -- now pegged, in an era of #metoo -- as abuse.  Though he never crossed into intimate sexual engagement, he came way-too-close, on more than one occasion.  As Bush's sympathetic biographer Jon Mecham writes, quoting a long-time Bush advisor,
"...From time to time he would let things go on too long and almost -- almost-- too far...I really don't believe he ever crossed the line, but he got right up to it..."  (Jon Mecham, Destiny and Power, p. 310) 
And so with that said:  what's the 'good of Bush'?

Well, there's a lot.

Learning #1 -  Relationships Can Be Preserved, Despite Ideological Differences.


Today, relationships largely disintegrate if we have ideological/philosophical/theological differences with each other.

I mean, nowadays:  if you're a conservative and I'm a progressive -- our relationship is largely over.  But George H. W. Bush had a marvelous ability to 'bury the hatchet' in spite of political variance.

Bush's unexpected relationship with Bill Clinton, the Democrat candidate who prevented Bush was becoming a two-term President, has been widely reported. But, Bush had many unexpected relationships.  One was with Representative John Dingel of Michigan, yet another Democrat. As WXYZ in Detroit reports:
"...Bush and Dingell often found themselves on opposite sides of the issues.  "I didn’t always agree with him. We had lots and lots and lots of fights and they were fights that were bitter but they weren’t fights that prevented us from being personal friends...That was very very important."...He would come down to the gym and play paddle ball...The comraderie across party lines is one Dingell writes about in his book, "The Dean" [for which Bush wrote the Foreword] ...reminiscing about a time when two people could disagree and somehow become the best of friends..."  https://www.wxyz.com/news/an-unlikely-friendship-john-dingell-remembers-president-george-hw-bush
Recently, I had a colleague question:  "what your label? You know," she clarified:  "we all have been labeled!"  I get that.  But when our 'labels' prevent us from seeing us first and foremost as human beings (not just human doings), children of the Most High -- then life dives deep, free-falling into competitive cut-throat darkness.

Mind you:  George H. W. Bush competed like the best, was even cut-throat on occasion.  But Bush never did the deep-dive; Bush never did the free-fall.  As Jon Mecham, Bush's biographer goes on to observe:
"...[Bush] spent his life presenting a face of grace and generosity to the world, and that face was real. He was graciousness and he was generous..."
We are called to do the same.  As the writer of Hebrews reminds us:
“…Let it be your ambition to live at peace with all men and to achieve holiness “without which no man shall see the Lord”. Be careful that none of you fails to respond to the grace which God gives, for if he does there can very easily spring up in him a bitter spirit which is not only bad in itself but can also poison the lives of many others...”  (Hebrews 12:14-15, Phillips) 

Lesson #2 - It's The Little Things That Truly Produce The Greatest Gain


Of course, George H. W. Bush did big things. What follows is only a partial list of the world-changing results of the 41st President's remarkable life:
  • Flew 58 combat missions for the Navy during World War II and was awarded three Air Medals and the Distinguished Flying Cross…After earning his commission and wings, becomes the youngest pilot in the Navy at the time. 
  • Ambassador to the United Nations 
  • Chairman of the Republican National Committee  
  • Serves as chief of the United States Liaison Office in China.  
  • Director of the CIA. 
  • 41st president of the United States, with 53.1% of the popular vote and 426 electoral votes. 
  • A commissioned aircraft carrier: The USS George H.W. Bush aircraft carrier commissioned. 
  • The Presidential Medal of Freedom. 
  • The John F. Kennedy Library Foundation Profiles in Courage Award. 
But Bush is probably best remembered for his little acts of kindness, often referred to by Bush, as a thousand points of life
  • Bush's hundreds and hundreds of hand-written notes and letters. 
  • Bush's willingness, at one point, to shave his head, in solidarity with a leukemia patient, the son of a member of his Secret Service detail. 
  • Bush's outreach to a Marine who dropped his rifle during a presidential appearance:  “I want to thank you and the others in the platoon for a super performance . . . Please thank all involved in the drill.” 
One of the most amazing Bush-kindness-stories is told by Dick Cheney.  Now, you'd think Cheney, of people, if asked to tell his favorite George Bush story would tell of a big Bush accomplishment.   But when asked this week, Cheney told the following tale:
"...I remember, 2004 election night, we're upstairs in the residence at the White House...We [Lynne and Dick Cheney] had our granddaughter there … about seven years old at the time and the president walked over to her and said, ‘You're the youngest person here, I'm the oldest, let's chat.’" "He sat down and spent a long time talking with the youngest person in the room at that time. She's never forgotten about it...There was no gesture that was too small or insignificant in terms of what he was willing to do to make people feel comfortable, to help when he could help. He just was one of the most thoughtful people I ever knew...”  https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/dick-cheney-recalls-time-thoughtful-george-h-w-bush-had-a-chat-with-his-young-granddaughter 
A huge reminder that it's often the little 'stuff' which is often the 'tipping point' between impact and insignificance.

So, don't neglect even the smallest gesture to those around you, living out Paul's reminder to “…be... kind one to another, tenderhearted…”  (Ephesians 4:32, KJV)).

Lesson #3  - Faith Can Be Integrated Into Life, Humbly, But Unapologetically.


On many occasions, George H.W. Bush would muse:  I don't wear my faith on my sleeve.  Yet, Bush and his wife Barbara were some of the most open and vulnerable recent public servant/leaders regarding their faith.  

Thus, it wasn't a coincidence, that when Billy Graham chose a dedicatory speaker for his library in Charlotte, NC, Graham chose George H.W. Bush. https://billygraham.org/video/a-look-back-george-h-w-bushs-heartfelt-message-on-his-faith-billy-graham/

Bush set the tone for his faith-commitment during his 1989 inaugural address when he declared that his first act as President would be an act of prayer.
“I ask you to bow your heads,” he said. “Heavenly Father, we bow our heads and thank You for Your love. Accept our thanks for the peace that yields this day and the shared faith that makes its continuance likely. Make us strong to do Your work, willing to heed and hear Your will, and write on our hearts these words: ‘Use power to help people.’ For we are given power not to advance our own purposes, nor to make a great show in the world, nor a name. There is but one just use of power, and it is to serve people. Help us remember, Lord. Amen.”  https://www.washingtonpost.com/religion/2018/12/01/george-hw-bush-helped-push-gop-towards-evangelicalism/?utm_term=.e17bf92483d7
Bush then closed his inaugural address by concluding: “I do not fear what is ahead. For our problems are large, but our heart is larger. Our challenges are great, but our will is greater. And if our flaws are endless, God's love is truly boundless.”  

Bush reminds us that we do can be open with our faith, without fearing the label 'Bible-thumper' or 'holier than thou.'  Bush's style recalls Peter's reminder, too: "…Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect…”  (1 Peter 3:15, NIV).

And so a great patriot and leader, has fallen: George H. W. Bush.

But most importantly a great man of character, and genuine virtue, has fallen.  A national and global leader, who reminds us that inner character/virtue is not dependent on perfection, but a long obedience in the same direction -- as one -- confesses his or her sins -- strives for the right -- keeps working for the good -- in spite of the inadequacy, of many a day. 

As our culture becomes more bifurcated, angry, vitriolic, filled with insult and hatred, it's good to remember George H. W. Bush -- a national/global leader who resisted such darkness, calling for a thousand points of light, summoning us to multiply acts of kindness, in spite of opponents and enemies.

George H.W. Bush was not a saint; far from it.  

But George H. W. Bush was just consistent enough in his character to remind us, there is another way of living, that can major in magnanimity, not meanness -- kindness, not kick-ass -- gentleness, not getting even.  

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