Wow. That is all I can say after watching this episode. It was truly the best episode of this program. Before I get to the notable moments in the show by our mayor, I will tell you why I truly enjoyed it. It was the SF Ministerial Association meeting, a group of pastors, priests, chaplains, ministers and reverends in Sioux Falls tackling the big issues in our community. I can truly say I learned a lot about the work they are doing for the less fortunate in our community and the mentally ill. They seem to understand the teachings of Jesus Christ; help those who can’t help themselves.
And this is where it gets ‘odd’.
While these highly intelligent and caring group of folks inform us over an hour about their community service, the mayor either seems oblivious to their work, or learns a helluva lot. I will give him credit on this one. I think Mike left this meeting feeling inspired and informed. I hope he takes this ‘learning’ experience and does something positive with it. And I truly mean it. While I am on his case a lot, I truly think there is a caring individual inside of him. I think he learned quickly throughout the meeting that he didn’t know it all when it comes to these issues in Sioux Falls.
A couple of notable moments in the show were;
• At the beginning the mayor self-proclaimed himself the minister of 170,000 people.
• A pastor (jokingly) encouraged him to become an evangelist after leaving the mayor’s office because of his enthusiasm.
• He is scared of death.
Like I said, you will have to watch it yourself and make your own interpretations. I watch all of this as a deist who doesn’t believe in religion but has a deep faith in a higher power.
The most telling and informative part of the meeting was when a hospital chaplain asked him about his fear of death and his anxiety about it, and carefully offered him advice. She said while she is scared of the process of death (pain and being a burden on her family) she doesn’t fear death itself. She essentially told the mayor he needed to get a handle on his fear of fatalism.
It was very telling.