We tend to elevate other people in our hearts and minds. It's human nature. I loved Vince Lombardi as a kid, I loved Bart Starr, Paul Hornung, Roberto Clemente, John Havelichek, Bill Russell, Bill Mazeroski, Willie Stargell, Paul Newman and Clint Eastwood. I guess you could say I put them on pedestals. They could do no wrong in my eyes. Of these men, Vince and Roberto have been immortalized since their deaths. I even got to meet Roberto one late night in Philadelphia after a Phillies game, and just a month or two from his 3,000 hit and final at bat. I was fortunate enough to follow him long enough to receive his autograph, even when he repeatedly said "No autographs please". I wish I still had it. Even as a 9 year old Junior Midget Midget player I would twist and turn my neck in the batter's box just like Roberto did at bat. It must have been pretty funny to the grown ups seeing a 9 year old with imagined bad neck problems. But if Bobby C did it, it was what I was going to do too. I really felt it helped me hit better. I cried all day upon hearing of his death, trying to take food and supplies to earthquake victims in Nicarugua.
Today, there is news of the investigation into the Penn State handling of the Jerry Sandusky fiasco. We live in the heart of Penn State territory. There are 2 Penn State campuses within a 1/2 hour from us and it's a couple hours to Beaver Stadium and we know quite a few people who hold season passes to their football games. The general mood of those who are long time fans of Penn State is one of protection for the legacy of Joe Paterno. I've heard all kinds of excuses for him and mostly they can't believe he would have known anything. Today's report would seem to blow that idea out of the water.
I too have admired the accomplishments of Joe Pa in the past but on this occasion I believed he had knowledge. I tend to believe the reports of the special investigator. All the evidence seems to lead to only one conclusion, there was knowledge and there was a decision not to expose Penn State to the "bad publicity". In so doing, they allowed many other young boys to be exposed to a very evil man and his whims.
I feel very sad that what I felt all along is now pretty evident. When we put people on pedestals, we will almost always be disappointed. I am sure that if I lived with Roberto or Vince I wouldn't always have been so impressed with everything they said or did.
God asks us to worship Him in Spirit and in truth. In essence, Jesus is the one we need to look at raised up. I've had people ask me why is that? It's because God knows that we will, in our human nature, focus on what it is we worship. He doesn't want us to focus on other human beings and emulate them. He wants us to be who He made us to be. He already had made one Roberto Clemente and no matter how much I worshiped him, I would never be him nor would I ever be a shadow of him. But what I do have the opportunity to be is the best Robert Alan Horning that God intended me to be. When I focus on Him and not others, when I compare myself to Jesus and not others, I will be who He wants me to be.... more like Him for my own and other's benefit.
So please don't put anyone up on a pedestal for any reason. Admire them sure, but never expect or think that they are better than who you are. I know there are those in my area who will defend Joe Pa until they die, but in the end, he was just a man. A man who dedicated his entire life to that one pursuit that in the end became tarnished somewhat by one selfish act. It doesn't wipe out his whole career but again we got to see God's mercy in allowing Joe to go home instead of bearing all this bad publicity. Jesus is the only untarnished and selfless man we need to look up to.
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