Who was it that said, “It ain’t over until the fat lady sings”?
One theory that has heft to me is the one about Sam Goldwyn, who didn’t like opera.1 He had gone to see a rather long one. A friend was going to attend the same opera, and Goldwyn’s advise to him was to not applaud its end too early: “It ain’t really over until the fat lady sings.” He presumably meant Brűnhilde in the last section of Wagner’s Der Ring des Nibelungen.
In that same article, an even earlier tradition was offered that seems likely:
“The phrase originates from sailors on shore leave in days gone by. Steam was the agent of propulsion, and the boiler was affectionately known as the “fat lady”. The boiler had to be stoked to build up a head of steam for the ship to leave port. When sufficient pressure had been generated the whistle blew. The ‘fat lady’ had thus sung, to signal to the sailors that their run ashore had ended.” ~ James Schofield, Horrabridge, England.
Whatever its true origin, the phrase informally means that whatever the situation, the current state of affairs is not ended until the official, dramatic end is declared.
In the U.S., we have had a peaceful election by the most recent standards, but the work has only begun. It ain’t over, folks.
Friends, do not cease to pray!
Our work is not over until Christ comes again.
And He IS Coming Again! (2 Timothy 4:1-2; Revelation 11:15, 17; Luke 1:33; Revelation 22:12-16).
NUN
The first two verses of Nun, Psalm 119:105-112, has captured the truth of our state before God as Christians.
Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.
I have sworn, and I will perform it,
that I will keep thy righteous judgments. — Nun, Psalm 119:105=106.
We must not relax!
With heaviness of heart for my own tendency to get back to life as “normal:” we must not relax.
God has given us mercy. Many have prayed for the United States of America to return to honoring God with our obedience and high respect, and to honor His Son in freely sharing the Good News of eternal life with others — lifting oppression, and upholding His justice in this world “as in heaven.”
As we rejoice in the hope we have ahead of us, continue to pray for revival,
Continue to acknowledge Him,
to confess our shortfalls in devotion and obedience,
to repent of our personal and national sin, and
to work very hard at holding our elected officials to the mandates for which we voted them in..
Pray for Upcoming Leadership
I pray that many young men and women will take stock of their lives, devote themselves to public service in many avenues. I pray for you, that our country will enjoy a legacy of godly leadership, for all nations and peoples.
We need you young men and women to be preparing now, to be ensuring the purity and quality of your life and ethics now.
For those of us who are gaining the wisdom of our years while the strength of our bodies fade, let us pray for and speak encouraging words to those coming up. They will need our support and guidance.
Finally, let us be found faithful and honorable lin our dealings at home and at work and with our diligent invovlement in the governance of our lands and the defense of the innocent and righteous..
Psalm 125
The LORD the Strength of His People
"A Song of Degrees"
1They that trust in the LORD shall be as mount Zion,
Which cannot be removed, but abideth for ever.
2As the mountains are round about Jerusalem,
so the LORD is round about his people
From henceforth even for ever.
3For the rod of the wicked shall not rest upon the lot of the righteous;
Lest the righteous put forth their hands unto iniquity.
4Do good, O LORD, unto those that be good,
And to them that are upright in their hearts.
5As for such as turn aside unto their crooked ways,
The LORD shall lead them forth with th eworkers of iniquity;
But peace shall be upon Israel.
Father in Heaven, O LORD GOD most High, and our Savior Jesus Christ,
We acknowledge You as our Sovereign Creator, perfect in righteousness, goodness, love and mercy and justice. We acknowledge that we are but your “sheep” in need of a Saving Shepherd. You have given us the Good Shepherd in Jesus Christ, the Door to our salvation. We stand before You now, in humble penitance and gratefulness for hearing our prayer for mercy. Now, give us the moral purity we so desperately need. Help us to make restitution for the wrongs we have done in not stewarding our lands and resources, and in not protecing the innocent and not exposing and dealing switfly and fairly with the wicked. Give us bravery to do the hard things, to work when we feel like resting, and to rest when we would dishonor your Sabbath by our selfish pursuits. Feed us daily with Your Word, and may our spirits receive its wisdom as life-giving refreshment from Your holy stream. Give us times of rejoicing and yet let us mourn with those who mourn, knowing that in Your time, You make all things beautiful and fair (Ecclesiastes 3). We ask You to guide our elected officials and keep them from the temptor’s snare. Protect our nation from evil, and most keenly from the evil within. Strengthen our ties with the nations of the world who seek Your ways, and help us stand strong in the face of empires that oppose You. Give us contentment with what You give us so that others may enter in to the bounty You so give to all Who follow You by faith. We pray all these things and more, with humble and grateful hearts,
In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
© 2024, ReadPsalm119.com. PHOTO: “Hope” [Butterfly on Fall Flowers] by ReadPsalm119.com, 2024.
Footnotes:
“What is the origin of ‘The show’s not over ’til the fat lady sings’?”, Semantic Enigmas, The Guardian, 2011.
