The post about political candidates announcing that they have been “called’ by the Lord to run for high office continues to generate provocative, passionate and  perceptive responses, the latest from Glenn Logan,a blogger who covers the University of Kentucky Wildcats for their most discerning fans. Glenn’s comments here—sadly less frequent than they once were—are always thoughtful. Here is his comment on “Dear God: Stop Calling!”, putting to good use his expertise regarding competition of all sorts. I think you’ll agree that it is a most deserving “Comment of the Day”:

“Just because God calls us to do something does not mean that our effort will be successful, even if we do it the best we can. I would hope that most people understand this. Very often, it seems to be the case that the value, or the lesson, is in the journey rather than the outcome. This is pure assumption on my part — God has not seen fit to reveal his works to me, a fact for which I am eternally grateful.

“It is also possible that these worthies mistook their own desires as a call from God. Sometimes, it’s hard to tell the difference, for whatever reason. If we forget, for a moment, that we are talking about politicians and just assume they believe what they say, this could be little more than a misunderstanding on their part.”

“To me, this is akin to praying for victory in an athletics contest, instead of for a good game, fair competition, and no injuries. God may well call people to do certain things at which they will fail by design. A call from God to do a thing is not an imprimatur of impending success, although I’m sure these two probably intended it to convey just that message, which is nothing new to politicians.

“Of course, such an impression a) presumes to know the mind of God and b) carries with it an unfair and arguably untrue implication that his or her opponents have no such divine sanction. It would have probably served them better to leave God out of the discussion, even if they had felt his call. Others may have felt it, too.

“There is an old saying that God answers all prayers, but that his answer is often “No.” Indeed, they may well feel the call, even from God, to engage in this endeavor. But if we assume the call is true, we may also assume that the outcome will serve God’s design, and that outcome may not be what either candidate hopes. The answer to their dreams of the presidency may be “No,” calling or not.

“Does the idea that God would call us to do something at which we are sure to fail sound off-putting? Only if we assume that only desirable outcomes for ourselves reveal the hand of God. This is the source of the other old adage, “If you want to hear God laugh, tell him your plans.”

“From that perspective, there seems little unethical about their comments except the suggestion that it carries an associated inevitability of success, and that they are the only ones whom God Himself has moved to act, a concept that cannot be true if both candidates truly felt compelled by a higher power.”