A New Beginning For The Senator

Posted by Larry Miller on June 18, 2009 under Why | Be the First to Comment

John Ensign is going through an extremely difficult time in his life. I’m not defending his actions, however, this can be a teachable moment for all concerned. The Senator has a history of defending traditional moral values, and now, very publicly has violated his own values. Does this mean he is a hypocritical fraud? Not necessarily. It means he is a human with human failings. The values he espoused let him know his actions were wrong.

The question of whether or not he should resign is one only he can answer. For those clamoring for his head on a platter I would suggest that “he who is without sin” make the first demand and accusation.

While he’s been a champion of of the family, he went against his own values, and is paying a terrible price for it. The public price includes the loss of respect from his colleagues and supporters. The press who was none too friendly before will rub any kind of salt into his open wounds. Then there is the worst of all, living with his mistake at home. Fortunately his wife apparently found it in her heart to forgive him.

What Senator Ensign acquired from this experience is something woefully lacking inside the beltway… something that will enhance his judgment and understanding of his allies and foes. It is a quality of humility. Sometimes we need to almost loose something to understand its value. In this case, he lost some status, almost his position, and could well have lost his marriage. Hopefully the lesson will stay with him and this understanding make him a better senator.

I don’t know if people really think Christians are perfect, or if they are just looking for ways to tear down those who try to hold higher standards to make themselves feel better. Whatever the reason, many people see this mans failure as so much worse than Barney Frank’s cash for sex incident with a male prostitute and staff member back in 1990. They are not entirely wrong, as John Ensign knew better. He knew what he did was wrong, but, like many of us who, at times, act against our better judgment.

Whatever happens as a result of this sad incident, we shall see. Before we write off this man who has served so well, we need to remember King David’s major failure. Not only did he take his neighbor’s wife, but he saw to it that her husband was killed in battle. Part of the price he paid was that their child died. Yet, he repented and he was called a man after God’s own heart. He was not perfect, neither is John Ensign… or any of us. What David had was a desire to overcome his past and do the right thing. Those of us who count ourselves as Christians all have a story of failure and redemption. I want to believe this is the Ensign story as well.