The Mug Shot Heard around the World

 

Trump’s recent mug shot has me pondering whether God is taking an active role in political events in North America. 

Trump had little control: the photographer was not there to make him look good, and it was probably just one shot. Yet the picture makes Trump look like a true and resolute leader; as good as Karsh doing Churchill. It is going to rally a lot of support behind him. It seems at least a small miracle; the opposite of what Trump’s enemies intended.

Karsh's Churchill

There are other recent hints of divine intervention, improbable and pointed things happening. Chrystia Freeland being stopped for speeding bare days after claiming she did not own a car and did not drive. The Trudeau separation, suddenly, in midweek. The sudden rise out of nowhere of Oliver Anthony. A year ago, the uncanny organization of the ad hoc Freedom Convoy. At a more granular level, eucharistic miracles, uncorrupted corpses, and Protestant revival meetings in the US. At a global level, the improbable ability of Ukraine to hold off the Russian invasion; the surprising solidarity of NATO.

Those who do not believe God works through history will scoff. But that has always been the Jewish and Christian understanding: that history has a purpose, and is working towards the redemption of all things.

Recent events have shown us wickedness in high places: to list all that has come out would be tedious. That list is now too long. Culminating, for the moment, in this attempt in the US to imprison the leading opposition candidate.

God may have allowed all this to come about, may have given the wicked free rein for a time, in order to make the moral plain. 

He may now be gathering the reins in his strong hand.