Eight Men Out

Just as every other year, I spent Baseball Season Eve watching a baseball-themed movie. This year, it was Eight Men Out once again. I love almost any movie that features baseball, but this one comes with such a sad ending, as it chronicles the 1919 Wold Series "Black Sox Scandal" series between the Chicago White Sox and the Cincinnati Reds.

The Black Sox Scandal refers to a number of events that took place around and during the play of the 1919 World Series. The name "Black Sox" also refers to the Chicago White Sox team from that year. Eight members of the Chicago franchise were banned from baseball for throwing (intentionally losing) games, giving the victory to the Cincinnati Reds.

There are a couple of scenes in the movie I just can not get out of my head. One is when "Shoeless" Joe Jackson, a player who knew of the scandal but did not approve or participate, comes out of the courthouse after signing a statement of his "involvement." Joe just does as the lawyers coerce him to do (eventually leading to his eventual ban from baseball) in part, because of loyalty to his teammates. As he exits the courthouse, standing there is one of the boys he knows from his Chicago neighborhood. The kid just looks at him and says, "Say it isn't so, Joe...just say it isn't so."

That feeling of disappointment in the eyes of that kid is one I think of often. I think of it when I see the loss in a student's eyes from painful problems at home. I see it when I talk with a student who has been let-down by a significant adult or close friend in their life. I see it when I think personally about doing something that would affect the lives of others.

Since I was still under quarantine this morning and missed church again, I pre-recorded some church to watch off the Christian TV stations on DirecTV. One of them was a guy who used to be a powerful evangelist. He used to fill arenas around the country, and his organization was one that gave tons of money to missions. I remember being a young teen and going to Madison Square Garden to see him once. He was an incredible preacher, and he had a significant impact on many lives around the world. He was not necessarily an "idol" of mine, but you couldn't help but look with awe upon his ministry accomplishments.

Until he fell.

Sexual sin in his life disqualified him for ministry, and within weeks, his ministry and personal life fell to pieces. Certainly, it affected his marriage, his children, and his ministry, but it's reach went much farther than that. His fall was honestly a "Say it isn't so, Joe" moment for me.

Today, as I watched his program, it was easy to see his church was far from full. I wondered how hard it must be for him to preach against sin in the same way. Particularly those sins that became so public. It was truly sad to see. Every time I see him or think of him, my mind inevitably recalls what happened. (That's probably true for most people who were alive during that era.) Sure, his sins are forgiven, no doubt about that. But what would have happened if he had not made the choices he made to bring that destruction to his life? People saved...churches built...lives changed...who will ever know?

I never want to hear the words, "Say it isn't so, Joe." said to me. I will do all I can to keep my focus clearly on Christ. I think I'd rather hear,
"Well done."