Worthy or Webbed

Worthy or Webbed
By Brenda Black

As a result of unending cool, cloudy days and torrential downpours, it's surprising I haven't developed webbed feet. Had any of the following newsworthy people acquired webbed toes, it may have helped them this past week. A triathlete could have out swam the alligator that chomped down on his torso. A not-so-bright student who surfed through traffic atop his car may have decided the ocean was a more logical choice. And Miss USA may have avoided stumbling in her mermaid dress.

Webbed toes or no, I'm glad the sun finally showed its shining face! Perhaps some of the craziness in this world will cease with a little more light shed upon us. I would like to think that is true, but common sense and common decency seem to be drowning along with the crops. For the swimmer says he'll head back to gator-infested waters once the puncture wounds heal. Friends of the car surfer say it doesn't surprise them that he would do something so idiotic. And so much for role models for little girls throughout the world, when our lovely 2010 Miss USA Rima Fakih has more clips on the internet of her pole dancing than she does jewels in her new tiara.

Of these three, the gator man is willing to risk his own life and that's his prerogative. The teen has posted an apology and assumed some measure of responsibility for his influence on other kids who might try the same stunt and get killed. But what of the iconic beauty queen? Is her rise to stardom just another in a long line of closed-door dealings where the outcome is pre-determined no matter what the public thinks? That's what many are wondering as she becomes the first Muslim to wear the coveted crown. I must admit, she looked very certain of her win and did not bring to the moment the quivering shock that is often seen on the newly enthroned. No tears. No nerves. But she thanked Trump for “hiring” her. Hmmmm, that's kind of weird.

I cringe every time I hear one more story of high-level corruption. And I get weary of feeling suspicious. It's not attractive. I want to be able to trust again. But I'm disgusted with the direction our country is headed where anything and everything goes and one is prejudice only if they profess any kind of moral code or venture wariness with political correctness.

Past Miss USA contenders have been raked over the coals for having conservative opinions on controversial topics. For example, in 2008, Miss California Carrie Prejean was slam dunked for her opposition to same-sex marriage. This year's first runner-up, Miss Oklahoma, Morgan Elizabeth Woolard, ironically got the loaded question when she was asked: "Do you think [immigration laws] should be mandated by the state, or the federal government?" Her answer was applauded by and was in line with the views of a majority of Americans, according to polls. Still, both of these women ended up as the first losers, while winners have been pardoned for lewd behavior. Prejean lost her state title a couple of months later, supposedly due to breach of contract. But 2006 Miss USA Tara Conner, who was imbibing entirely too much, got a second chance. Commenting on her problems, Donald Trump said only, "She left a small town in Kentucky and got caught up in the whirlwind we know is New York."

So is the whole nation so caught up in such a whirlwind that simple decency is moot? If Trump is truly “ticked off” about Fakih's photos and videos now so popular on the internet, did it occur to the pageant owner and deft business mogul to do a little background check on any of his potential hirelings? The evidence of Fakih's uninhibited behavior has been on the web for three years!

Oh, we are seeing more webbed feet than you think! Feet that are tangled in the web of worldliness, deceit and indecency. “For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools...Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies...They exchanged the truth of God for a lie.” (Romans 1:21-25)
If you actually still adhere to some common sense and decency then be a beacon. “You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:14-16)

Walk worthy instead of webbed!