A wonderful song is a wonderful song--no matter the lyricist or the musician.
And a true statement is a true statement no matter the tongue that forms the words. Despite the likelihood that he is currently burning in hell, I suspect even 'Dolph Hitler spoke one or two true statements during his mad and deranged life. Perhaps he declared the beauty of a sunset. Maybe he got a math question correct from his teacher in kindergarten.
Truth is truth regardless. The objective Standard for truth and beauty and goodness is the Source of truth and beauty and goodness, the One who created these things whose qualities flow from the essential nature of his being.
Don't expect to find much wisdom and truth leaping off the pages of the Sunday newspaper Parade Magazine. Neither would you expect to find them in an interview with Jay Leno. Perhaps a smile or two but no quotes to etch in marble. Smiles being in slim supply these past months, I plunged in, and lo--to my surprise, I found nuggets of truth and wisdom.
The first quote that got me nodding came about as he elaborated on his motor vehicle hobbies.
"I have about 135 cars and 90 motorcycles. It's a little silly, but my thing has always been one woman and 200 vehicles. It's cheaper than one car and 200 girlfriends."Truth in jest. I don't think he meant that one-woman was silly but his vehicular fetish. No, Mr. Leno is a rarity in Hollywood in that he sees the pain that comes from not being able to reign one's libido. Solomon suggested something similar minus the wit when he said,
"Her house is the way to Sheol, going down to the chambers of death." (Proverbs 7:27)A bit later he was asked what kept his marriage working. He quipped,
"If you don't fool around, it's not that hard."Wow. Kind of the anti-Nike. Just don't do it. Sounds a lot like "Thou shalt not commit adultery" minus the King James English.
Really, if adultery is not an option (as it ought not be), it's much like flying in an airplane without a parachute. If you want to make the final destination, you have to work together to get the plane going again when it starts sputtering. There's no jumping out mid-flight. Tracy and I have made it a point never to use the d-word ("divorce," if crosswords aren't your thing). No parachute. Not an option. Might I challenge you, brothers, to never, EVER consider the a-word (word three this paragraph). Just don't do it.
Leno continued,
"I think the key to life is low self-esteem--believing you're not the smartest or most handsome person in the room. All the people who have high self-esteem are criminals and actors."Try this on,
"What is man that you are mindful of him?" (Psalm 8:4)Or
"All our righteousnesses are like filthy rags." (Isaiah 64:6)Or
"Certainly every man at his best state is but a vapor." (Psalm 39:5)In fact, man's rebellious pride keeps him from seeing his sin and confessing it before a holy God. But think about what he said in your relationship with your wife. If every day you were continually amazed that such an extraordinary, beautiful woman would have you as her man, if you saw her as the unsurpassing treasure and priceless gift from the very hand of God made specially for you, would you not treat your bride with greater honor? When my opinion of myself begins to burgeon within my marriage relationship, I start getting demanding and having unfair expectations. Tenderness wanes. Curtness and rudeness become the norm. Perhaps this is why Paul encouraged the church at Philippi
"...in humility count others more significant than yourselves." (Philippians 2:3b)No, Jay Leno is not Jonathan Edwards. And please, don't tune into The Tonight Show to improve your marriage or to plumb the mysteries of the universe. I have to admit, though, as a husband, I was greatly encouraged to see a man of wealth, fame, and even power have a high regard for his wife and his marriage. A nugget of truth. An encouragement to the heart.
So take it from Jay. Love your wife.
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