CBS 2 School: Our Pilgrim's Progress
After suffering a body blow of historic proportions in the midterm election President Barack Obama chose the proper course. He went on a pilgrimage.
Even calling himself Christian along the way, Obama's recent trip to the Far East seemed reminiscent of another pilgrimage. Obama's recent journey shared a lot in common with The Pilgrims Progress written by John Bunyan over 300 years ago.
Bunyan's book has never been out of print. It has been considered one of the most influential books in the English language. Perhaps it has influenced our president.
In Bunyan's allegory the main character, named Christian, was clearly an everyman. His pilgrimage like all pilgrimages begins with the realization of a heavy burden. Leaving the City of Destruction all pilgrims head toward the Celestial City.
For Obama he is facing a burden he hoped to avoid. His program and agenda were received with great antipathy. Electoral mountaintops in 2008 were met by a deep valley in the midterm results of 2010. Obama's Celestial City lies ahead in his bid for reelection in 2012.
In The Pilgrims Progress our everyman is directed by a series of trusted advisers. Obstinate and Pliable are two of the most noteworthy. The pilgrim leaves Obstinate at home as he heads out guided by a distant "shining light." The Slough of Despond and the Hill of Difficulty are ever present. The pilgrim tries to persuade Ignorance to join him but watches as this delusional character loses his way by taking the ferry Vain Hope. Our pilgrim finally arrives at the Celestial City by following the "shining light" down the King's Highway and through the Wicket Gate.
President Obama's recent trip to India, Indonesia and South Korea was an attempt to find his Wicket Gate. Time will tell if he left Obstinate behind. Many have encouraged him to embrace Pliable. One assumes Ignorance is not a problem. But for all Vain Hope tempts. In the end the distant "shining light" for Obama, as is true for all presidents, is public opinion. Public opinion can make any President the most powerful man in the world one day and a pitiful helpless giant the next.
A pilgrimage often can be that catalyst in our attempts to redeem our time.
Perhaps another look at Bunyan is worth our time. The burdens we carry seem unparalleled. As President Obama plays the part of our pilgrim and returns home this week we hope his mentor is John Bunyan and not Paul Bunyan.
All too often a president pretending to be Paul Bunyan is doomed to failure. Learning the lessons from John Bunyan, however, may go a long way to healing our transgressions.
As always the Wicket Gate is narrow.
