A few years ago there was an interesting programme on ABC TV called 'Altered Statesmen'. It looked at former political leaders who, whilst leading their countries, were battling medical issues that the general public, by and large, were not aware of.
For instance, John F Kennedy and possibly also Sir Winston Churchill, were using amphetamines (speed) while they were president/prime minister of their respective countries. In fact, Kennedy was on Speed during the Cuban missile crisis. It's amazing really, given the mental fragility of some of our world leaders, that we haven't seen a major nuclear conflict in the world. Maybe God has exercised a little more control than people have given him credit for.
On the other hand, Biblical prophecy would seem to suggest that some time in the future something terrible will happen either with nuclear weapons or maybe with the emerging nanotechnology.
On a brighter note, the programme suggested that England may not have won the war had Churchill not been Prime Minister. Churchill experienced times of great highs followed by periods of melancholy. But his condition may have contributed to him being able to inspire his nation during its darkest days of 1940. A person not suffering Churchill's condition may not have been able to see victory through the gloom of that period.
I am encouraged by that. The fact that we aren't perfect doesn't consign us to the scrap heap. Sometimes our flaws can even be our strength.
When I look at our church I recognise that we are all flawed. Sometimes, I have lacked grace in my relationships with people who have been battling their flaws that have been both known and unknown to me. We are all flawed and yet God can use our flaws to achieve things through us that otherwise might be impossible to achieve. Flawed people ministering to a flawed world.
Let's not allow our flaws deter us from being involved in mission and ministry. God can, and will use us in ways we could probably not imagine.
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