By Harold Keller / L’Observateur / Febuary 15, 1999

Duffy Daugherty, the colorful Michigan State football coach in years past, used to say that a person needed only three bones to journey successfully through life: a wishbone, to dream on; a backbone, for strength and courage to get through the tough times… and a funnybone, to laugh at life along theway. Sounds good to me.With the lack of leadership in this country, the problem can easily be traced to the fact that we have become a people without a vision (the wishbone), no courage (the lack of a backbone), and, last but not least, a joyless society (the funnybone.)I’ve often heard it said that people get the type of government they deserve. we only have to look at our president. Yes, he had a dream – aselfish dream – a dream to be president of the greatest country God ever created. His dream was to glorify Bill Clinton. He has accomplished hispersonal selfish goal. The Bible says that when the righteous are inauthority, the people rejoice, but when the wicked rule, the people suffer.

America, with all the good economic news, has suffered under Mr. Clinton.He has sent a message to the next generation that says character does not count. The sad part is that a majority of the American people agrees withhim. The U.S. Senators have a dream. They want this impeachmentnightmare to be over with with only because they can’t stand the heat. Bythe time you read this, President Clinton will be found not guilty. Manythink it will be a victory for him and his supporters, but in reality it is a defeat for all the American people. I repeat – all the people – including hissupporters.

Let’s talk about backbone. Mr. Clinton, like many of the senators whosupport him, in my opinion, refused to stand in line when God was issuing backbones. With no backbone, a person becomes like a jellyfish. With nobackbone, courage to do the right things and the strength to be hones, regardless of the consequences, disappear.

Last but not least, the funnybone. The Bible says that the joy of the Lord isour strength. Yes, I have to agree that Bill Clinton has laughed through allof this, but not with joy, with a mocking spirit directed to the minority of people who demand justice.

God’s Word says that only a fool will mock sin. I’ve been a fool manytimes, but today, because God has removed the blinders from my eyes, I know the difference between laughing at evil and the joy of the righteous.

I realize that some of the readers of this column must be saying that they’re sick and tired of hearing and reading about Bill Clinton and the impeachment trial. I am, too.This article is not about the Senate or Bill Clinton. I used them to make apoint. It’s about a wishbone – vision…a backbone – courage…and afunnybone – joy.

How do you stack up as you journey through life? Are you equipped with the necessities to be successful?

Harold Keller is a regular columnist for L’Observateur

Copyright © 1998, Wick Communications, Inc.

Internet services provided by NeoSoft.

Best viewed with 3.0 or higher