Mel Gibson's beautiful feet--of clay

No one is more dismayed than I that handsome, blue-eyed Mel Gibson was arrested for speeding and driving drunk, and in his stupor, used the f-word, claimed he owned Malibu, and that he would get back at the officers, or f-words to that effect. : /

But what is even more tragic is that the one who brought us The Passion of the Christ spouted a crude anti-Semitic tirade.

Not to downplay that, but, well, it's also tragic that Moses struck the rock and after 40 years of putting up with the kvetching and tsouris and frustrations of the people he led, he was not allowed to enter the Promised Land.

And it's tragic that Noah obeyed God in blind faith all those years and then, after finally leaving the ark, he planted a vineyard and got very drunk. His kids were no prizes in that, either.

But God knew these people He used would have these failings. And He used them anyway.

He may use me, yet!

He may use a properly contrite Mel Gibson again. I really hope so.

He and the rest have clay feet, but they are beautiful feet.

Because in their own ways those people brought aspects of the Gospel to the world.

Isaiah 52:7 How beautiful upon the mountains
Are the feet of him who brings good news,
Who proclaims peace,
Who brings glad tidings of good things,
Who proclaims salvation,
Who says to Zion,
"Your God reigns!"

But, that anti-Semitic tirade was not beautiful.

Gibson apologized for the drinking, for the humiliating display, and said he has fought alcoholism all his life and that he has disgraced himself. He humbled himself beautifully and I believe, sincerely.

He said that he said things he didn't really believe in.

But where did it come from?

I pray Mel Gibson, who obviously loves the Lord, will read the passage above and Romans 11 which defends the Jewish people, before he receives the discipline of a loving but just Father:

"Whom the Lord loves, He chastens."

And He made a unilateral unconditional promise:

Genesis 12:3 I will bless those who bless you,
And I will curse him who curses you;
And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.

Blessed by the Jewish Messiah, star of Passion of the Christ, Mel!

I did like a comment I read on a forum:

Pray for Mel ... there probably are few mortal men whom Satan hates more. His pilgrimage is not an easy one. Neither is yours nor mine.

God chose one man, Abraham, whose people He would use to reach the world. And He made a unilateral unconditional covenant with Abraham that included a parcel of land. Forever.

As prophesied, that promise, that land and that--star--have much of the world standing against Israel.

We would all be wise to heed that promise.

My book's secondary hero, David, is spurned by the heroine. He goes to Israel to explore his Jewish roots. My heroine's mother-in-law (who has "beautiful feet") has challenged him to discover the Messiah for himself. David's discoveries, loves and losses teach him more than he ever dreamed.

He returns to New Orleans a different man, stunned, thrilled. And no longer interested in the heroine.

But he now has "beautiful feet." (Maybe I should change the book's title~) How does the heroine react to this new David? She had discovered some feet of clay....

Author Bodie Thoene just left a Comment here. See her blog on my list to the right, for her impassioned thoughts today.