Bend the Knee

Bend the Knee

I endeavor to keep the focus of my blog on personal experiences and life observations that would be of interest to my readers. There are topics that I have strong convictions but feel they are for a different kind of blog. I try and stay clear of hot button political issues that tend to polarize public opinion. So, my goal in today’s blog is informational not divisive.

The media has fixated itself on the issue of  “bending the knee” by professional athletes during our national anthem. What started as the protest of one player has now turned into an emotional national debate. Fueled by political, social, economic and racial overtones it appears that we have one more issue that is driving us toward a divided nation.

Contrary to the attention this is getting in the public forum, “bending the knee” is not a new phenomenon. History is full of people who out of respect or repression knelt before kings, conquerors, czars, pharaohs, tyrants, popes and potentates. Its origin was a physical sign of submission, good or bad. I was raised in a church where “bending the knee” was mandatory upon entering a church. In those days, it was called genuflection!

The Bible gives a fresh perspective to whom we should bend the knee: “So come, let us worship: bow down before him, on your knees before God, who made us.” And in another place: “and at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth.”

There is an ancient Latin saying that may help us here: “in necessariis unitas, in dubiis libertas, in omnibus caritas” in essentials, unity; in doubtful matters, liberty; in all things, charity. Ah! Charity that benevolent goodwill towards all.