Just Who is This Guy, Carl Spackler?

Author’s Note

 

I must laugh because I've often asked myself my foe, my enemy, is an animal. To conquer him I must think like an animal and whenever possible to look like one. I've got to get inside this dude's pelt and crawl around for a few days. Who is the gopher's ally? His friend? The harmless squirrel and the friendly rabbit. I'm going to use you guys to do my dirty work for me.

 

--Carl Spackler from the Caddyshack

 

Reflections

 

.         In the classic golf comedy movie "Caddyshack," Bill Murray plays Carl Spackler, the greenskeeper for the Bushwood Country Club. His character is portrayed as an eccentric loner, who often talks to himself, out the side of his mouth. During the movie, his singular mission is to eradicate the gopher, infesting the golf course. Like Moby Dick, Carl Spackler is Ahab, and the gopher is his white whale, who he will defeat at all costs.

 

         Recently, a modern day, apparently, fictitious Carl Spackler has reemerged. In November 2021, while browsing my book offering on Amazon to check the status, in horror, I discovered a personal attack against me, posing as a book review for my published book.

        

         Wow! I was shocked to read the words, not because it was untrue, but because it was not a review of my book, but a personal attack against me.  Although angry at first, I began to instead wonder why this person hiding behind the character of Carl Spackler, could hate me so much.  The fact the events he described happened seven years prior to me writing the book meant nothing to this “Carl Spackler”, who was Ahab and because I represented his white whale, he would destroy me at all costs.

 

         Now just who is the hypocrite! The person hiding behind the name “Carl Spackler, most likely never read my book, Let’s Humor the Old Man: An Old Man’s Journey to Salvation. For you see, this book is about a sinner, whose rocky journey to salvation was fraught with mistakes, including the events occurring during that season of his life referenced to by “Carl”.

 

         Today, I am not angry at the modern-day fictitious Carl Spackler who wrote the personal attack against me. I view his attack as synonymous with the religious persecution Christians all over the world face each day! I instead pray for him.  My creator God has helped me understand he needs my prayers, not my anger, because he is the true hypocrite in this scenario.

 

         What is a good working definition of a hypocrite? Hypocrisy can be thought of as the practice of engaging in the same behavior or activity for which one criticizes another or the practice of claiming to have moral standards or beliefs to which one's own behavior does not conform. I would argue that a hypocrite does not confront the person he believes is a hypocrite, but instead hides behind a fictitious character to spread lies about the person, not allowing the person to answer or explain the allegations.

 

 

         What does Jesus say about hypocrisy? In the Bible, the Greek word ὑποκριτής (hupokrites). All eighteen times it is found in the Bible, it comes from Jesus. In Jesus times, this word referred to a stage actor – one who pretends to be someone he or she is not. In the following passage, Jesus rebukes the one who is a hypocrite, who measures out and judges’ others by higher standards than he judges himself, rebukes one who lacks integrity:

 

        

“Do not judge, so that you may not be judged. For with the judgment, you make you will be judged, and the measure you give will be the measure you get. Why do you see the speck in your neighbor’s eye, but do not notice the log in your own eye? Or how can you say to your neighbor, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ while the log is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your neighbor’s eye.” Matthew 7:1-5

 

Silent Prayer

 

Our creator God, help us discover who the real hypocrites are!

 

Music

 

Hypocrite Song by Eli

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RxrjzF_NwXA

 

Lyrics

 

I've been quick to point a finger
At things I find outrageous
Well, I wonder who I'll point at
When I read my life on pages
When I've played my final number
It really won't take long
To realize I sang a hypocrite song

Oh ly-dee-dye, oh ly-dee-dee
I thank the Lord that there's a Heaven
Full of hypocrites like me
So tell the angels to get ready
Cuz it may not be too long
Until I come and sing my hypocrite song

I preach about redemption
As I look you in the face
Then I'm convinced I must be dyin'
But it's just somethin' that I ate
But it's Jesus who gives mercy
To make a weak man strong
So he can stand and sing
His hypocrite song

I can't wait to see my Savior
And look Him in the face
Shake His hand and plainly thank Him
For forgiving my mistakes
And for helping me remember
That even when I'm right I'm wrong
Then we'll rejoice and sing this hypocrite song

 

Have a great day!

Barry