Buuuuuutttt...then reality sets in. Three minutes later, in the grocery store parking lot, I'll load up the food, get in the car, adjust the radio, turn on the seat warmers, plug in my phone, and check my teeth for leftover pieces of lunch...all while someone is waiting patiently behind me to get my parking place.
The Lance Armstrong situation has had me thinking a lot about this concept lately. It seems that everyone is flabbergasted that a world champion cyclist could stoop so low as to cheat his way to the top and then lie about it. And, honestly, I was a little miffed myself when he finally came clean. Lance used performance-enhancing drugs in order to win the most prestigious cycling competition on planet earth - seven times. The decision put millions of dollars in his bank account and gave him worldwide fame. How could he do that? You and I never would...right?
Well...
Have I ever accepted cash as income from someone and not claimed it on my taxes?
Have I ever been given too much change at a store and not returned it?
Have I ever "rounded up" the time on my time card?
Have I ever taken more credit than I deserve for something?
Have I ever found something that wasn't mine and not looked for the owner?
Have I ever kept the cable package that the cable company forgot to turn off?
Have I ever copied a CD or DVD from a friend?
If I am tempted to sometimes "fudge the truth" for the sake of a few dollars or a few pats on the back (or because I can justify it somehow), what right do I have to judge someone who cheated and lied in order to get millions? I'm not saying Lance Armstrong was right, of course. I'm saying that I'm not as different from Lance as I'd like to believe. And you're probably not either.
I recently heard a quote that said something like, "You want to really get Christians upset? Put 'em in a room full of people who sin differently than they do." In the book of Matthew, the Bible talks about it a little more seriously: "Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?"
Was Lance's admission disappointing? Sure. But before I get too carried away knocking Mr. Armstrong off of his literal and figurative pedestal, I'm going to try my best to work on the "planks" in my own life and pay little attention to everyone else's "specks."
Very good post, and very true. It goes back to Let him who is without sin cast the first stone. Our human nature always causes us to judge someone by human standards, while we ourselves like to think that we aren't as bad as the next person, in reality we all are.
ReplyDeleteIn confession (yes, I'm Catholic!), my priest pointed out to me how the devil knows exactly where to hit us and hit us hard. He knows our weaknesses. It is so true... we all walk around with big egos, "I would NEVER do that". But, how insensitive (and un-Jesus like of us) to unknowingly say that in front of the person "who HAS done that" and is feeling very remorseful (deep down inside) for that sin/those actions. Saying, "I would never do that", is like pounding into someone's head, "You are unworthy of forgiveness." I recall when Jesus told Peter, "Get behind me, Satan!" Jesus can see when we are not thinking of or looking at others through the eyes of God. Yet, another tactic of the devil to keep us from receiving the Lord's mercy (for our own sins) - by making us think we're better than others or perhaps being unable to forgive ourselves to accept God's mercy and move forward, which I believe causes much of the depression people's lives. We need to pray for God's mercy to heal broken hearts, our own hearts, and to then be the vessels through which God uses us to lead one another to healing. That is bringing Christ to others. His love and mercy is infinite and unconditional... for not just me, but for everyone who desires it. Understanding this Truth, through God's grace, helped me love others more, look beyond others' sins - realizing they are being attacked/lied to by the devil in this way or that, and encourage others to seek the mercy of the Lord for themselves.
ReplyDelete~ Nancy Sinclair
Many people concentrate on his endorsements and the money he gained from being #1. Most people realize that the window of opportunity in many competitive sports is a small one. There are only a few years in which we are at our peak performance levels.
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure what got me on this particular train of thought, but I wondered about all the people he competed against. The ones that never cheated or used enhancing drugs. The ones that will NEVER get that moment back where they can straight out WIN the race and now that time has passed and in some cases can never be attempted again because there are now younger, more fit competitors to take those positions.
Not to say that all older athletes are washed up but life is such that as we get older we aren't at our very best peak physical performance level. I have never felt bad for the endorsement companies, they made their money at the time, or the publishers of his books etc, those books are gone and sold off the shelves and most likely those that are sue happy will go after Lance for this money. But I do feel bad for the folks who lived for this, trained for these few moments in life and were cheated out of it, never to have that opportunity again. Yes they can always go back and give the title to second place finisher, but it's not the same as having won the race fair and square in front of the pack.
That's a great point! You're right. Their opportunity is gone. Lance said, at the time, he felt like "everyone was doing it"...but, I'm sure, not everyone actually was. Thanks for the great thoughts.
DeleteAgree! Our sins DO affect the lives of many (whether we want to admit it or not)! Most people think it's just personal, a personal choice, but it's not... there are consequences. That's what Jesus is trying to teach us... sin has a rippling effect, but in HOPE so does LOVE! Love looks out for the other, it is not selfish. We should all be sorry for our selfish behaviors, realizing what it does to our world. Let's create a rippling effect of goodness toward one another.
Delete~ Nancy Sinclair
Tim, while I strongly agree with you on the Biblical principle of not focusing on your brother's "speck" while there is a telephone poll in your own eye, I most definitely disagree with you in the way you minimized the grief and sorrow that Lance Armstrong caused in the lives of many. All sin is sin, -and the wages of sin is death -on multiple levels. So we should ALL desire to steer clear of sin and it's ripple effects. No sin is justifiable; none.
ReplyDeleteHowever, to make this a black & white issue and compare what Lance Armstrong did to "rounding up your time card" is (in my humble opinion) a poor application of that text. What Lance did greatly "damaged" people professionally, emotionally and financially. Our children and many others look up to people like Lance Armstrong. It is time we stop making excuses for people like him who prey on those who are weaker.
Eric...thanks for your note. I wasn't intending to minimize anyone's pain. You're right, many people suffered as a result of Lance's actions. The point was that none of us is very far away from making similar decisions if put in the same circumstance that Lance was in. If we're willing to "cheat" to save a few bucks on taxes, what makes us believe that we would pass up the opportunity when millions are on the line?
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