Middle of the Bird
When I was in high school, I enjoyed the harmonies and comedy of the Smothers Brothers. The Smothers Brothers show was notorious for its satirical humor. One cast member was Pat Paulsen. Pat was able to say funny things without cracking a smile. He campaigned for President of the United States starting in 1968.
The campaign statement he used that stuck with me was, “I am neither left wing nor right wing. I am middle-of-the-bird.” He was good at one-line and two-line ludicrous humor. For example, he said, “The number one cause of forest fires is trees.” “I’ve always said: ‘The future lies ahead.’” “Having a comic in the White House will assure stability in foreign relations. The world will continue to respond to foreign initiatives by saying, ‘You must be joking.’”
As I have matured, I have realized that I am neither right wing nor left wing either. I’m also not middle-of-the-bird. None of these groups will solve the deepest problems we face. What we need is a good king. Someone who is full of both grace and truth. So, while I have a passport that identifies me as a citizen of the United States (a good place to live temporarily), I have a far more important citizenship in heaven. Paul (not Pat Paulsen) said it this way:
A Better Citizenship
“Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us. For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.” Philippians 3:17-21
That is good news. No more middle-of-the-bird, temporary solutions that just won’t work.
More about Pat Paulsen: WIKIPEDIA LINK.
Five Minute Friday
This post is part of the weekly Five-Minute Friday link-up.
All scripture passages are from the English Standard Version except as otherwise noted.
Know Your Flocks & Herds 
I reminded myself of this very, very often during the last election cycle. Keeping our eyes on our TRUE citizenship would solve a lot of the political (and social) conflict we run into while on the earth.
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I certainly remember The Smothers Brothers but I don’t remember Pat’s presidential campaign!!!
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His election might not have been a bad thing.
Yes, the future lies ahead,
forest fire’s caused by trees,
so send me all your hard-earned bread
and I will tell of these
truths of which you may have heard
in my great campaign,
firmly middle-of-the-bird
(and water causes rain!).
Foreign kings will moan and writhe
unable to quite understand
that a great people opened eyes
and chose to rule their land
a comic with a deadpan face
whose humour is a chance for grace.
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I wonder how things would have turned out had he won the election.
Visiting from #36
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