A Virtual Church

The Golden Boy and the termites

August 1, 2024

Once upon a time in America, there was born a golden boy. He had a weathervane for a soul, and he wore no clothes. The golden boy grew on the outside, but not on the inside. He missed the lesson on kindness and grew to be a bully. He also missed the lessons on humility, sharing and shame. In his arrogance he became convinced he was above the law.

But the golden boy had charm and his father’s wealth to create a persona of immense strength and influence. His gold was magnetic. People, who also had weathervanes for souls, were drawn to him in delusions of grandeur and illusions of power. Then the termites came.

We know about termites. Tiny flying bugs that look like ants, with power to eat through wood. The house is taken down one stick at a time. The insidious and destructive thing about termites is that the infestation can happen while we are sleeping. We don’t even know we have them until the floor falls in.

While we are just beginning to learn about the termites, their work is already evident. The termite’s entire goal is to bring the house down and give the golden boy keys to the kingdom. Only he will have real power and freedom. He will be above the law, in a place where the only rule is impulse. That’s how the golden boy thinks.

The kingdom of the golden boy will have a high fence and a big stick. The phrase “cut off their heads” will echo through the halls. The golden boy is rattled by any people who challenge his authority. “Lock them up” is his favorite phrase. He is quickly angered and appeased only by the groveling of others, and a few cheeseburgers.

Termites have come to the House… and the Senate. They have taken up residence on Jones Street. Even some governors have termite infestation. The bench is almost eaten up. Fealty to the golden boy is growing. In his world loyalty is a one-way street. The golden boy bites and belittles any perceived opposition.

Victimhood is the golden boy’s game. Poor little rich boy. Perhaps the law would not be after you if you had not been such a flagrant abuser. It’s one thing to stretch the truth and press the boundaries, but complete lies and lawlessness are unbecoming, to say the least, and should be disqualifying to the golden boy who wants to be king.

Fables teach moral truth and tell us about human nature. In their purest, they use a story to teach important ethical truths.

The Orkin man is not coming to the rescue. Superman isn’t either. Even Aesop doesn’t have a happy ending to this one. We are left to write the ending.

Half our leaders have hitched their hopes to the golden boy. There is no will among the termites to do the right thing. The reckoning with the golden boy is in our hands. Voting is our final hope. It’s on us to be a vocal, noble opposition. And we must encourage voter registration and voting at every opportunity. We have fewer than 100 days to treat this termite problem.

Lib Campbell is a retired Methodist pastor, retreat leader, columnist and host of the blogsite www.avirtualchurch.com. She can be contacted at libcam05@gmail.com 

 

 

 

 

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