My heart aches for the Pat Tillman family, now knowing that the government decided to "spin" the story surrounding their son's death while serving in our military.
If you recall the story of Pat Tillman, he was the NFL player who was compelled to join the military and fight after the terrorists attacks in 2001. He gave up millions in a professional athletic salary, to wear the uniform of the United States Military.
First reports told us that Pat Tillman was killed in action, a brave gun fight taking his life in battle. After numerous rumors saying the reports were fraudulent, months of investigation have revealed that Pat Tillman was killed by the 'oxymoron of all oxymoron's', "friendly fire". It was a mis-communication accident that took his life, and one of his own shot him.
The deeper scar surfacing this week; Our government knew the truth and fabricated the "spin". Early reports had Tillman as a hero, fighting the enemy in a brave gun battle.
The country honored him, and his family grieved in the midst of his honor, only to find out now that the story was 'made up', a lie, a method was call "spin".
Now, I'm not here to debate the merits of government controlled propaganda, that is a topic for another day and another time. I'm writing due to the power of "spin", not just in times of military accidents, but in creation itself.
Truth be told, we are all impacted by "original spin".
In the beginning it was Father God who spoke the "words", and creation was created - reality as we know it took shape. There was no "spin", God said "Let there be light", and there was light. Exposure of all things true and in perfect relationship with Abba Creator.
In John's letter, he tells us that in the beginning Jesus was there, on the scene and in relationship. Jesus is the Word of life, and He was there without "spin". John's letter offers, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." Again, no "spin".
In that beginning there was also a word of instruction, "The tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die." The explanation of the possible death of the relationship with Abba Father - again, no "spin".
Inside of the 'spinless' creation came along a situation surrounding 'words'. In the garden Abba's human icons were enjoying their relationships without "spin"...then "spin" approached them.
The Propaganda encouraged the icons to eat of the fruit that the Word told them to avoid. The woman recited the word's simple instructions, but "spin's" temptation is wrapped in common sense.
The snake said, "Do I understand that God told you not to eat from any tree in the garden?" The woman fell for the ploy, and the preparation of "spin".
"You won't die. God knows that the moment you eat from that tree, you'll see what's really going on. You'll be just like God, knowing everything, ranging all the way the way from good to evil."
God didn't really say not to eat, what He really said is to understand that when you do - be ready, you'll be just like Him. And "spin" took it's place.
Original spin took its place, and it now has us all in a constant word-smith realm of imaging ourselves to others and to ourselves. The relationship with Abba was severed, and the attempt to lessen the blow we now "spin" ourselves, others and the world with words of fabrication over words of life.
We "spin" ourselves in our relationship with God and others - even those closet to us, "spin" rules the day. We "spin" ourselves inside of the marketplace and with religion.
Even in our mind, we create campaigns of self propaganda, convincing (sometimes psychological damaging ourselves) ourselves with "spin".
As Christians, we attempt to "spin" ourselves with self-righteousness, knowing full well that we are simply ragamuffins in great need of daily grace. We create "spin rules" of religiosity and separation, so to convince ourselves with self propaganda that we are better than the rest.
It's a powerful campaign of "original spin", and it is deep seeded in every icon's life solved only in Jesus' (the Word without spin) redemptive relationship in Graceland.
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