mike vick part 2: is that a plank?
This morning Mike Vick pled guilty to the charges for which he was indicted. All of the charges were heinous, and definitely worthy of punishment. Shortly after his court appearance he spoke to the world with a few brief statements in the form of an apology (If you would like to watch it click here). So of course ESPN among other news outlets aired the apology. Waiting in the wings were all the media personnel who were there to help people like you and me better understand what happened.
The first person I heard this morning was an “Apology Expert” (incidentally wouldn’t you think that someone who is an expert in apologies has had a lot to apologize for? I mean how else would one become an expert?). The question was asked in reference to his apology, “What grade would you give to Mike Vick?” The same question was asked to another expert, this one was a “Reputation Expert” (no official word yet on what people think of him). Both of these men spouted the most arrogant rhetoric of what Vick was really thinking.
I was sitting there thinking, “How do they even know?” Both of them admitted to not ever meeting Vick. Yet they were experts about how he delivered the apology and the authenticity that went with it. The best part was how both of them spoke toward how Vick could have been better coached before delivering his apology (now I am no expert but doesn’t coaching in an apology make it a tad less authentic?).
This was the straw that broke the proverbial camel’s back for me. Throughout the last few weeks I have received emails about Vick that make jokes to his detriment, mock his having to be incarcerated, point the finger at him in a patronizing way, and rip on his friends. Through all of this I have become more angry, and my question has become, “Who do we think we are?”
We sit on the seat of judgment regarding this guy’s heart, intentions, authenticity, motives, and everything else. Yet as we turn to speak to one another in jest we smack each other with the large plank sticking out of our own eyes. The reality is that none of us are fit to speak down to Mike Vick - rather we can only speak to him on the same level recognizing that we have all, in our own way, killed a few dogs along the way.
I look at my own life and see times that I laugh at others, because they are easy to ridicule. I want to critique someone’s sincerity to cover up my own inauthenticity. I want to discuss the matters of someone’s heart only to cover over my own deficits. Yet the reality is, that in all of that I am no expert. I cannot stand and speak authoritatively about anything this guy has done. All I know is that he killed dogs, and helped other people do awful things. The other thing I know is that for whatever reason he apologized.
Our only job, is to forgive him. Think this sounds crazy? Well, in 1983, just over two years after Pope John Paul II recovered from gunshot wounds in an assassination attempt, the Pope visited the man who tried to kill him. The Pope spoke privately to the gunman and forgave him for his actions. The gunman was clearly moved and humbled. The Pope had extended forgiveness to his enemy.
Arthur Blank, the owner of the Atlanta Falcons was asked how he felt about the situation. Understanding that Blank has been more hurt by this than most anyone who will read this blog. In a forgiving spirit reminiscent of the late Pope he said, “I do believe in redemption … How I feel is less important, this is not about me.” So who do we think we are to hold this against Mike Vick? Who do we think we are to stand as judge? Who are we to throw the first stone?
I realize there are consequences to our actions, but should those who represent Jesus (and his forgiveness) be the purveyors of arrogance as we stand and mock this guy? My vote, for what it is worth, is no. So the next time someone mocks Mike Vick, talks about the ugliness of his actions, sends an email that mocks him … simply ask, “Do you really think this is how we should respond?” But before any of us ask that question, let us all ask it of ourselves.
The first person I heard this morning was an “Apology Expert” (incidentally wouldn’t you think that someone who is an expert in apologies has had a lot to apologize for? I mean how else would one become an expert?). The question was asked in reference to his apology, “What grade would you give to Mike Vick?” The same question was asked to another expert, this one was a “Reputation Expert” (no official word yet on what people think of him). Both of these men spouted the most arrogant rhetoric of what Vick was really thinking.
I was sitting there thinking, “How do they even know?” Both of them admitted to not ever meeting Vick. Yet they were experts about how he delivered the apology and the authenticity that went with it. The best part was how both of them spoke toward how Vick could have been better coached before delivering his apology (now I am no expert but doesn’t coaching in an apology make it a tad less authentic?).
This was the straw that broke the proverbial camel’s back for me. Throughout the last few weeks I have received emails about Vick that make jokes to his detriment, mock his having to be incarcerated, point the finger at him in a patronizing way, and rip on his friends. Through all of this I have become more angry, and my question has become, “Who do we think we are?”
We sit on the seat of judgment regarding this guy’s heart, intentions, authenticity, motives, and everything else. Yet as we turn to speak to one another in jest we smack each other with the large plank sticking out of our own eyes. The reality is that none of us are fit to speak down to Mike Vick - rather we can only speak to him on the same level recognizing that we have all, in our own way, killed a few dogs along the way.
I look at my own life and see times that I laugh at others, because they are easy to ridicule. I want to critique someone’s sincerity to cover up my own inauthenticity. I want to discuss the matters of someone’s heart only to cover over my own deficits. Yet the reality is, that in all of that I am no expert. I cannot stand and speak authoritatively about anything this guy has done. All I know is that he killed dogs, and helped other people do awful things. The other thing I know is that for whatever reason he apologized.
Our only job, is to forgive him. Think this sounds crazy? Well, in 1983, just over two years after Pope John Paul II recovered from gunshot wounds in an assassination attempt, the Pope visited the man who tried to kill him. The Pope spoke privately to the gunman and forgave him for his actions. The gunman was clearly moved and humbled. The Pope had extended forgiveness to his enemy.
Arthur Blank, the owner of the Atlanta Falcons was asked how he felt about the situation. Understanding that Blank has been more hurt by this than most anyone who will read this blog. In a forgiving spirit reminiscent of the late Pope he said, “I do believe in redemption … How I feel is less important, this is not about me.” So who do we think we are to hold this against Mike Vick? Who do we think we are to stand as judge? Who are we to throw the first stone?
I realize there are consequences to our actions, but should those who represent Jesus (and his forgiveness) be the purveyors of arrogance as we stand and mock this guy? My vote, for what it is worth, is no. So the next time someone mocks Mike Vick, talks about the ugliness of his actions, sends an email that mocks him … simply ask, “Do you really think this is how we should respond?” But before any of us ask that question, let us all ask it of ourselves.