I have just finished reading Sarah Palin’s new book Going Rogue and I am half way through with Benjamin Franklin’s autobiography. It struck me as interesting the similarities between the two very distant figures. They both speak of God’s divine providence in their life. They both speak of a calling and direction that people have. Something that is unique and special to all of us. They both speak highly of their family as molding them and encouraging them from a young age.
At one point early in Franklin’s life his father exposed him to many different trades hoping to find one that would fit Benjamin’s life. Franklin’s father knew of Benjamin’s love for books and they both settled on the printing business for Benjamin. It seemed to work out very well. Palin wrote about God placing a desire in each individual that would encourage and lead people to find their place in life.
Another time early in Franklin’s life he led his band of friends to take some stones, that were being used to build a new home, to build a wharf so that they could stand by the lake and fish for minnows. The boys were eventually found out and each was punished by their fathers. Benjamin tried to reason his way out of punishment saying the wharf was of great benefit to the boys and others. Benjamin’s father taught him an important lesson: for something to be good and of use it must also be honest and true. As I read Palin’s account of her life it occurred to me that she always did what she thought was right in her mind not what was expedient. Sounds like a lesson learned and put to use by Franklin.
For something to be good it must be of the truth. That is a lesson from which we can all learn. There is a great need in our world today for truth and honesty and doing the right thing. Jesus said that he was, “the way, the TRUTH, and the life.” When we come to Jesus we gain the truth by being united with him.
As I learned from these two figures, Franklin and Palin, and their similarities I am reminded of the wisdom from Ecclesiastes 1:9 “What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun.” At least from the lessons I have learned from these two figures separated by more than 200 years there seems to be nothing new under the sun. But that is the point of truth, it is timeless.
