Let the fells figure out who stays next to you

Pastor Aki Hätinen:

Some time ago I went to see The Apprentice, a film directed by Ali Abbas. The film about Donald Trump's years as a young man has stirred people's thoughts into one direction or another, since it was released in the run-up to the presidential election and there was even an attempt to block the film from being shown in US cinemas. Abbas' film is not a statement for or against Trump's persona, but the film's central point of interest lies elsewhere.

The young Trump wants to get out from under the shadow of his businessman father and create his own business empire. He is mentored by a thoroughly immoral lawyer, Roy Cohn, who teaches Trump a few truths about making it in life: 1) Always attack, 2) Admit nothing, deny everything, and 3) Never admit defeat, even if you lose. Does this sound familiar?

When Cohn falls seriously ill and needs reciprocal help from the man he helped rise to the top of the business world, Trump turns his back on his mentor. The lessons were not lost. As Cohn recalls all the help he has given, Trump remembers that he put himself on top on his own and without any assistance.

Often we tend to remember our own efforts on the way to the top and forget the people who supported us. This does not take away from the fact that hard work is important, but often we also get help from those around us. It's worth remembering the people we meet in life - because those same people will meet us again in life.

Let the exhortations of John's letter be the final thoughts: 

“For I rejoiced greatly, when the brethren came and testified of the truth that is in thee, even as thou walkest in the truth.

I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.

Beloved, thou doest faithfully whatsoever thou doest to the brethren, and to strangers;

Which have borne witness of thy charity before the church: whom if thou bring forward on their journey after a godly sort, thou shalt do well:

Because that for his name's sake they went forth, taking nothing of the Gentiles.

We therefore ought to receive such, that we might be fellowhelpers to the truth” (3. John 1: 3-8).

Aki Hätinen
The pastor of the Lutheran parish of Rovaniemi