The Best Bush Story Ever Told

No matter how the nation feels about George Bush, one thing is for sure, he'll keep on doing something he thinks is right without hesitation. He is also big on biblical metaphors and of course God speaks to him about being President, so we should know that we are in safe hands, right? His relationship with God isn't the story here, but a painting that reflects his attitude about religion, country and his "leadership" is.

From PBS:

I thought I would share with you a recent bit of Texas history which epitomizes our mission.

My very close personal friend from Midland, Joe. J. O'Neill, III, recently loaned me a portrait entitled "A Charge to Keep" by W.H.D. Koerner. This beautiful painting will hang on my wall for the next four years.

The reason I bring this up is that the painting is based upon the Charles Wesley hymn "A Charge to Keep I Have". I am particularly impressed by the second verse of this hymn. The second verse goes like this:

"To serve the present age, my calling to fulfill;
O may it all my powers engage to do my Master's will"

This is our mission. This verse captures our spirit.

Joe was inspired to make this generous loan during the church service preceding the inaugural ceremonies. It was in this church service when we sang the hymn "A Charge to Keep I Have".

When you come into my office, please take a look at the beautiful painting of a horseman determinedly charging up what appears to be a steep and rough trail. This is us. What adds complete life to the painting for me is the message of Charles Wesley that we serve One greater than ourselves.

Thank you for your hard work. Thank you for your service to our State. God Bless Texas!

Bush wrote that to his staff when he became Governor and subsequently took the painting with him to the White House. I'm sure the man on the horse having a resemblance to the then-Governor helped prompt him to hold onto W.H.D. Koerner's portrait. Last year Bush spoke about the painting in an interview, explaining that the horseman depicted was very determined while on a difficult trail. Also "A Charge To Keep" is a hymn that is about serving the almighty.

Gee, thats a nice interpretation George. Now, do you want to know what the painting is really about?

He came to believe that the picture depicted the circuit-riders who spread Methodism across the Alleghenies in the nineteenth century. In other words, the cowboy who looked like Bush was a missionary of his own denomination.

Only that is not the title, message, or meaning of the painting. The artist, W.H.D. Koerner, executed it to illustrate a Western short story entitled "The Slipper Tongue," published in The Saturday Evening Post in 1916. The story is about a smooth-talking horse thief who is caught, and then escapes a lynch mob in the Sand Hills of Nebraska. The illustration depicts the thief fleeing his captors. In the magazine, the illustration bears the caption: "Had His Start Been Fifteen Minutes Longer He Would Not Have Been Caught."

Hmm, just a slight difference in opinion by the artist from the President. Of course the man that drew it ultimately knows what he created and for what purpose. Though he never knew how his painting would come to watch (from the wall) and reflect on the horse thief that became our 43rd President.