The Best Part of History

I just finished reading a book on the Watergate scandal of the 1970's called "The Secret Man: The Story of Watergate's Deep Throat." I know it could just be me and my history obsession, but this story is one of the most fascinating ones I've ever read. AND IT REALLY HAPPENED.

The book is written by Bob Woodward, one of the two journalists at the Washington Post who were integral in bringing President Nixon's scandal to light (history AND writing? I'm in heaven). Woodward and his partner Carl Bernstein began their investigative journalism after a break-in at the Democrat's national headquarters in the Watergate office building in 1972. They did some research, began reporting, uncovered a money trail, and soon realized the break-in didn't stop there. By writing, they helped impeach a president.

But the coolest part of the story is Deep Throat.

Deep Throat was their secret source. A mentor to Woodward.

They would leave secret messages to each other and meet in parking garages at two in the morning. He wouldn't tell the journalists everything he knew: but would guide them and lead them in the right direction. Give them clues about where they needed to look. His identity was kept hidden for 30+ years until 2005 when he was revealed to be Mark Felt: the number two guy at the FBI at the time. The second in command at the FBI was meeting journalists in parking garages in the middle of the night to help them uncover and bring down a presidency? And nobody knew who he was for 30 some years!? I'm getting pumped just reading my own thoughts. This stuff is so cool!

One of the reasons I love history so much is because of stories like this. Because we can learn from it. We can read about it and go back to that time and dissect it and ask why and how things happened. We can look at the real people behind these events and see who they were. And they're not fiction: they made real life decisions and real life choices: it's fun to see the why.

And what I take from the story of two resilient writers: is perseverance. It's really incredible to think about the task they took on and what they were willing to do. It's cool to think of where they came from (Woodward was denied a job at the Post when he first applied) and how they sought help to get where they needed to be. And Mark Felt: the things he risked, his determination: it'll speak into your life whenever you're feeling lazy.

But above all, the story has helped show me the importance of mentoring and seeking and trust.

At church on Sunday during a study of Colossians, we learned of Epaphras, a Christian teacher who spread the Gospel in Colossae (the cool thing about Epaphras: he's real! He's a part of our history too!). And David asked the question: who is your Epaphras? Who in your life is bringing you the Gospel and teaching you?

And in a historical kind of way, Deep Throat reminds me of Epaphras. Someone in the shadows, pointing in the right direction, facing risks, determined. It's empowering to know someone's teaching you, mentoring you, leading you, encouraging you to think for yourself and come to the answers with your own thinking and a little push.

Who are you seeking?

And on the other end, who are the Bob Woodwards in your life? The students who are seeking, the ones who want to learn, the ones who are writing, the ones you can point to the Gospel?

To echo David: to whom should you be an Epaphras?

Our ultimate Epaphras and our ultimate Deep Throat is Jesus.

He wants to be sought after: Hebrews 11:6 says we are rewarded when we seek Him.

His characteristics far outweigh those of our humanity and His motives are pure. He came and He died and He loved for us. He's our ultimate Teacher, Mentor, and Leader. He's ever present to lead us through the scandals of our lives.

Reading through the Gospel of Luke has given me a valuable lesson on who Jesus is.

He's the best part of history.