“I think God calls all of us to fill different roles at different times, and I think that He wanted Donald Trump to be president.” Sarah Sanders, press secretary, during a recent interview at the Christian Broadcasting Network. 

“Working for Trump was doing the Lord’s work.” Steve Bannon, former chief strategist for Donald Trump, in a documentary entitled, “The Brink.” 

First, an apology: I had vowed to stay away from politics for a while, but when these two comments came to light, I couldn’t help myself. Let’s just say that the Devil made me do it. 

Perhaps Sarah Sanders should brush up on the Constitution (First Amendment) or, even better, read the thoughts of Thomas Jefferson traced to a January 1, 1802 letter by Jefferson addressed to the Danbury Baptist Association in Connecticut. “Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between Man & his God, that he owes account to none other for his faith or his worship, that the legitimate powers of government reach actions only, & not opinions, I contemplate with sovereign reverence that act of the whole American people which declared that their legislature should ‘make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof,’ thus building a wall of separation between Church & State.” 

Perhaps Steve Bannon should brush up on the Bible unless he honestly believes that the Lord’s top priorities, as President, would have been to slash taxes for the wealthy, cut regulations for corporations and prevent woman from having control over their own bodies. Or keep Mexicans and other brown-skinned people from getting into the U.S.. Or unless he believes that the Lord was a bully, a narcissist and a con man, who was just fine, thank you, with separating refugee parents from their children. 

On a more positive note, I do believe that millions of Americans are, in fact, “doing the Lord’s work,”  at least as I understand that term: 

Teachers in crowded underfunded inner-city schools who are doing their best to help students be their best. 

Policemen who daily put their lives at risk to enforce the laws and keep us safe. 

Firefighters who always stand ready to be where they need to be to do what they need to do. 

Single mothers — indeed all mothers and fathers— who are struggling to make ends meet while keeping their kids safe from hunger and harm. 

Good citizens in towns and cities around the land who reach out to help others  — serving in soup kitchens or coaching youth sports or volunteering in libraries and hospitals — all for the common good. 

Medical researchers striving to find cures for cancer and numerous other diseases. 

Members of school boards and town councils and state legislatures willing to put up with the inevitable flak from disgruntled constituents to improve the lives of those who put them in office. 

Good souls willing to mentor young people who can’t find what they want or need at home. 

Citizens everywhere who take the time to fight for equal rights and equal justice. 

Small business owners and major corporation CEO’s who recognize that treating employees fairly and well is smart business and act accordingly. 

One wag opined, “Don’t let politicians tell you how to pray or preachers tell you how to vote.” That wag had it right. So did Thomas Jefferson. Oh, one last message for Sarah Sanders: If God wanted Donald Trump to be President, then it’s equally fair to say that God wanted Robert Mueller to investigate Trump and his cronies and newspaper reporters to point out Trump’s lies. Just a thought, Sarah, just a thought. 

David Treadwell, a Brunswick writer, welcomes commentary and suggestions for future “Just a Little Old” columns. dtreadw575@aol.com.