Today will be a hard day for Lance Armstrong and Manti T’eo. If one or both of those names is mysterious to you, three seconds on google will clear things right up. They are both involved in supersized scandals and the press is going crazy trying to keep us informed on every salacious detail.
Scandals like these happen every day. People lie. Cheat on their taxes. Misrepresent their accomplishments online and in person. Use performance-enhancing substances (I’m over that; Twinkies are no longer available.) These stories are magnified a million times by the level of success the men have achieved. America loves nothing more than a good comeback story. Unless it’s a good story of how the mighty fall. There’s nothing like a high-profile train wreck to make us feel better about our own normal lives.
Whenever I hear these stories, I think about the friends and family of those at the center of the scandal. To think that at one time, they took pride in being related – “that’s our boy!” – and now they are faced with the choice of loyalty or loser-by-association. It might be an easy decision to make, but it would be hard to actually walk out . If you believe otherwise, you haven’t read the comments on the articles about Armstrong or T’eo. People loathe them. And they love loathing them. But each of these men is somebody’s son. They have grandparents who have watched them grow, believing they are superheroes. They have siblings and friends who know there is more to them than the scandal.
This week, some friends of ours went through a very difficult court appearance that has been generating a boatload of news coverage. One night, I sat at my computer, heart aching as I read the comments from people who do or don’t know the details of the case, spewing every sort of hatred. I actually don’t know a lot about the case, but I do know our friends. I know they have been loyal and faithful and lovely to us. They have helped clean our house and weed our yard and have loved us sacrificially even while they were in the middle of their very own fight. Again, I know little about their case, but I want to be the kind of friend who stands up to say: there’s more to them than this.
There’s more to all of us.
Every one of us has something we would not want splashed through the headlines. We are, each one, a mess of good and bad and true and false. I’m learning that one of the greatest gifts we can have in life is friends who stand with us even when it’s hard and embarrassing and What in the World will People Think?
I have friends like that and I’d like to be a friend like that. As the above stories emerge, I’m watching to the left and right of these fragile, fallen superstars. I’m watching to see who’s standing alongside. I’m watching to see how the truly loyal shine as they share the shame of someone they love. I’d really like to be someone who runs in to help when everyone else heads for the hills, because we’re all a mess except for grace.
Standing,
Bo
Well said friend!!
Thanks, Gina B.
This is a picture of how news becomes a Piraña like feeding pool as people take out their own short comings on others. They conceal their own pain by slinging rants and raves on someone else. This is where we can make a difference. The love of Christ covers people. I love the scene in the gospels when Jesus comes to the aid of a woman caught in adultery and people want to stone her. Jesus steps in, looks the accusers in the eye and says, “He who is without sin cast the first stone”. I couldn’t, you couldn’t and neither did any of them. This is love. Great post Bo!
“The love of Christ covers people.” That’s really big doctrine in a nutshell of a sentence – I love it. Thank you, sweet husband.
I agree Bo! Everyone is your “friend” when you’re on top! In times like now with Armstrong..where are “those” friends now?? The takers.. the ones who love your limelight cuz they don’t have any of their own! The ones who follow people around to suck the life out of them then leave when the fun is over..we need friends like the ones you spoke about..going through their own misery they look beyond themselves to help friends in need. Yes.. I too want to to be that kind of friend..like Jesus with skin on! Thanks Bo..adore you friend
Thanks for sharing that, Suzanne. The adoration runs both ways!
Great word Bo! You are right on the money that there is always more to people than what the papers print or newscasters spew. Like Suzanne said…it’s easy to have ‘friends’ when you’re up, but the true friends are those that are around when you are down. I also know the friends you speak of and they are wonderful, amazing people and it sickens me the way the ‘news’ is handles. Anyway…I aspire to be the friend that is there regardless. Thanks for the word and the reminder
Yes, Tami – always more to the story. You’re so right. Bless you, friend.
Thank you Bo!!!! These are my parents, and I still stand with pride when I say they are MY MOM and DAD!!! They are not one bit like the media makes them out to be!! They are the most giving people I have ever met and they would give the shirt off their backs to anyone that ask for it… I remember this God is the ruler of this world and he is a God of justice, he will bring them justice in all of this.. They are the most incredible people ever and I know I am the person I am today because of their dedication, love, support, strength and motivation they have given me in my everyday life. Thank You for posting this, it means more then you will ever know! Xoxox
Thanks for sharing, Heather. We’re praying for you.
thanks for always sticking by me, friend. xoxox
Ha! Well, you are welcome, friend. You’ve been a lot of work over the last 30 years but I really did not want to try to break in another bff. Love you!!! Ready to book my Sacramento wedding tickets – planning to stay from May 5 til approximately September 22nd, right?
Words to live by. Well said. Agape, unconditional love, just like Jesus. The world so needs us to reflect Jesus with skin on! Thank you for this word today, Bo. You inspire and encourage me.
Thank you, Kelly. Hope all is well in your world.
Terrific post, Bo. Thank you for seeing the “best” in people.
Thanks, Susie-Kay. I appreciate you!
Absolutely true and I love the way you put it into words. You have an amazing gift and hope you all are doing great!
Thank you, Kelli. We’re doing well…we miss you guys!
Thank you Bo as always. I too think often of the loved ones, family and friends who hurt along with those in the spotlight like this. We all make mistakes. We just aren’t on the front page of the media yet we are never out of God’s radar for which I am so very thankful. Keeping you and yours in prayer as well as those in these “spotlights.”
In His Grace,
Jill
I have always said that God has a sense of humor. He also left Moses 10 Commandments for us to live by. The first two have a lot to do with this subject. I usually don’t pay attention to the fallen heroes stories, as they are somewhat predicted throughout the Bible. I remember many years ago how my friends laughed at me when my favorite TV evangelist – Jimmy Swaggart – took his fall through earthly addictions. To me, that proved another valuable passage from the Bible written in Romans 3:23–for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. There is another commandment that these gentlemen are guilty of, as I am myself – Thou shall not lie!
Your husband, Steve, has been a friend like that to me, and I am grateful beyond words.
Thanks, Brian. He’s been a friend like that to me, too.