President Obama calls the bonuses “shameful”.  An interesting choice of words.  More of an eastern sounding response than a western response.  In the west we lean on justice and legal system to keep people in line.  In the east there is more of shame based system of people being shunned and losing respect that keeps people in line.  Let me read a lot into the President’s statement:  While it was not illegal nor are we going to pursue any legal avenues for your actions of paying out the 6th largest bonus pool in the history of Wall Street one of the worst, if the the worst, year in Wall Street history, you have lost respect and position in our society.  You have proven that you are not trustworthy.  The next time a hand is held out for help, or a plea is made for softer regulations, or a request is made to “trust” us, I doubt this Administration or the American people will be in a mood to give even a little bit.

I will say it again, there is no accountability in place.  Until such time as their is consequences for actions, there will be no changing in the actions.  What is the definition of insanity?

How does this relate to our relationship with God?  God holds grace and justice in perfect tension.  We have free will and are directly impacted by the consequences of our decisions.  “Fear” of the Lord is the first-step to wisdom.  I believe that all of these Scriptural truths are what is needed in our lives and in this situation.  

I know that in my life, I need accountability and boundaries.  I need to know that their is grace for mistakes but that my mistakes “count”.  (As an aside,  I would not be excited to live in a world where my actions did not count.)  What is the worn out expression?  God loves us too much to leave us where we are.  I wonder if we can say the same for our relationships with others and their relationship to us.