I'm Sorry Albert . . .

I’m Sorry, Albert…

Thanks to Joy FM and Deidre Pujols for taking the time to share her family’s point of view on her husband signing with the Anaheim Angels.  She did not owe that to our community, nor did we deserve it – especially considering how many people have been spewing hatefulness lately…

Her sharing reminded me of some very important lessons and in some ways really kicked my butt.  We all know this truth:  there are always (at least) two sides to a story, different perspectives of the same event or conversation.  Something I really strive to do is remember that there is so much beneath the surface of what we see.  I usually have no problem doing that with the teens I meet on retreats, but in this situation that awareness escaped me and I’m embarrassed. I speak with teens often about being aware of how easily the media is manipulated and yet I failed to even consider that in this situation – #FAIL on my part.  I’m really sorry I got sucked in to the drama and the hype.

Another reminder I got from Deidre was that when we hold on too tight to what we have and get too comfortable with it, we don’t have our arms open to receive the blessings God wants to send our way next.  She spoke of how comfortable she and her family are here, of all the seeds that have been planted and how strong their roots are.  She said clearly that they did not want to leave.  They were holding on tight to what they have here.  I know that there are many who won’t like hearing this, but isn’t it at least possible that they are being called by God to L.A.?  Aren’t there people in southern California who could use an example like the Pujols family?  

Is it also possible that Cardinal nation has been holding on too tight to Albert Pujols?  Have we become guilty of idolatry?  Check out Webster’s 2nd definition of idolatry:  1.  the worship of a physical object as a god  2.   immoderate attachment or devotion to something (or someone).

Perhaps there are other opportunities that are coming our way.  The Cardinal’s have known great success before he was here and will know it after he is gone.  His time here was truly special and those of us who were lucky enough to see him play here will never forget it.  Still, it’s exciting to see what will happen next in St. Louis.  Albert Pujols may be gone, but this is still the greatest baseball city in the world. Can I hear an “Amen!”?

The thing that really hits me the most is how easy it has been to criticize Albert Pujols and call him a hypocrite when that action alone exposes our own hypocrisy.  I’ve heard many question his Christianity and integrity, myself included.  Wow, that’s sure Christian of us, isn’t it?  Even more troubling is that we are “examples” of faith to all we know, what kind of examples are we being to the students we work with and the people in our life?  If we get this upset when we are disappointed by a sports figure (someone who isn’t even in our circle of influence) how will we react when we are disappointed by a family member or a teen?  They are watching every move we make and every word we say (or post online) has an impact.

When you lose something you love or care about it is natural to be hurt and angry.  We all have a choice about what we are going to do with those emotions.  When a community member leaves, it is a loss.  When the rest of the community reacts in anger, it is a greater loss.  We are called to more.  We are called to love like Christ loves, especially when it is difficult.  The world doesn’t learn about Christians by reading Christian literature, but rather by watching and listening to Christians.  What is the world learning about Christians through this situation?

Listen to Diedre’s interview.