With a name so close to the son of God, you’d have to think Gov. Charlie Crist would have a little easier time getting the ear of the Big Fella in heaven.
Turns out, he kind of does, especially when it comes to hurricane season.
Crist told a group of reporters Friday that it’s no coincidence the state hasn’t been plagued by hurricanes during his tenure in office.
Crist said he isn't trying to take credit, but he told a group of real estate agents Friday that he's had prayer notes placed in the Western Wall in Jerusalem each year and no major storms have hit Florida.
"Do you know the last time it was we had a hurricane in Florida? It's been awhile. In 2007, I took my first trade mission. Do you know where I went?" said Crist, a Methodist, referring to a trip to Israel.
Maybe we should start calling him Gov. Charlie "Jesus" Crist. I think we all sleep a little better at night knowing that Crist is praying for us and God is actually listening. No need for those shutters and canned goods with that knowledge.
Crist noted that just before his election in 2006, Florida had been affected by a total of eight hurricanes in 2004 and 2005.
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He then told of going to the Western Wall and inserting a note with a prayer. He said it read, "Dear God, please protect our Florida from storms and other difficulties. Charlie."
"Time goes on -- May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December -- no hurricanes," Crist said. "Thank God."
Last year, Sen. Nan Rich was traveling to Israel and Crist asked her to put a note in the Western Wall, a holy site in Judaism and a place where written prayers are traditionally placed.
"It was the same note, by the way, the same prayer," Crist said.
Is it really that easy? Maybe Crist could ask God to create a few jobs or replenish the Everglades. Or what about supplying teachers with better salaries to improve education.
That seems like it should be a pretty doable list considering the good Lord is steering massive amounts of atmospheric pressure and winds and rain away from the Sunshine State at the governor’s bidding.
Or maybe it only works when it comes to hurricanes. Unfortunately, our savior is leaving for D.C. soon and taking his hurricane-repellent powers to Obama.
This year another of Crist’s friends was going to Israel and he gave him a prayer to put in the Western Wall.
"You can do it on the Internet now, but I'd rather have it physically in there," Crist joked. The note was placed in the wall in May.
"May, June, July, August -- we're getting closer," Crist said. "Knock on wood. I would ask you all to say a prayer."
