Another politician takes the fall. Should I be surprised?

This recent resignation of Mr. Spitzer is particularly troublesome to me because I knew of him as the corporate reformer when I worked on Wall Street. For those of you who are not familiar with Mr. Spitzer's career, in the early 2000s, the former governor made his mark by pushing for investment banking reforms and busting white-collar criminals. He was that politician that was supposed to be different.

For me, the news hit me like a ton of bricks. When I saw the headlines, I couldn't believe it. I had to look at the headlines three times before I believed what I was reading. The governor who had actually put prostitution rings out of business and its ring leaders behind bars - he himself had been a participant! It's not the way it's supposed to be. He was supposed to be bigger than this!

But when I look at Mr. Spitzer, it causes me to take inventory of my own life. Though Mr. Spitzer had committed such an egregious crime (in my mind), I cannot pass judgment on him without examining my own life. Am I completely devoid of hypocrisy? Am I so pristine and holy? Have I ever taught something to others that I did not follow myself?

I've heard that Billy Graham never allowed himself to be in a room alone with another woman other than his wife or a relative. When I first heard this, I was surprised. Why did he set up such a rule for himself? I mean, he's Billy Graham, of all people! But perhaps he just understood that he was no better than anyone else. And that's probably why God used him so powerfully.

All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble." (1 Peter 5:5)