Why me? Why not me?

Have you ever wished you weren't in a position that seemed thrust upon you? Have you ever looked with jealously on someone else who seemed to have a good situation seemingly not of their choosing?

I just read today's daily lectionary selection of the annointing of David by the prophet Samuel to be king of Israel. David was picked for the job of king by God. It doesn't get much more thrust upon you than that. The first group that was not doubt jealous was his brothers, all older, and all passed over for the job. When we read this part of the story of David or the part where he kills Goliath, we all want to be David. When his star was rising and he was gaining popularity, it's easy to look upon someone like him and say to ourelves, "Why can't my life be like that?"

But being chosen for positions of responsibility, great or small, carry a price. Chosen people attract folks looking for influence and power themselves. That can play out well and sometimes it can play out it in violent and tragic ways. Abner and Joab found themselves in David's orbit and the story contains tragedy from their collisions.

Chosen people also carry within themselves seeds that bear good and bad fruit. David was popular and often made wise choices. But he also make some sad and tragic choices that caused him and others deep personal pain. The infedelity with Bathsheeba is one such case and there were others.

Michael Jackson was in a sense chosen. He began his career and became popular because of his family. Most folks fell in love with the 10 year old who could sing and dance. Michael also used his gifts to build his own very successful career, breaking free from his family's control. Sadly he also carried within himself seeds that bore fruit that caused tragedy.

When providence or fate chooses us (depending upon your view of life), we need to remember that in all those cases we are still flawed creatures who need God's grace working in our lives. We need God's grace to help us become the best we can be, to help us avoid the worst of what we can be, and to help us pick up the pieces when our choices or the choices of others cause damage.