There’s a new biography coming out about Joe Paterno and I was really struck with one of the excerpts (in regards to the Sandusky scandal):
“My name,” the Hall of Fame coach was quoted in the excerpt as telling his son and quarterback coach, Jay. “I have spent my whole life trying to make that name mean something. And now it’s gone.”
That pursuit sounds noble, right? I think we can all sympathize with that statement. However, the pursuit of his name is eventually what led to his downfall.
Perhaps the full story hasn’t been told yet (as the Paterno family contends) but based off what we currently know, it seems as if Paterno failed to pursue justice to the fullest extent with Sandusky. Why? Presumably because it would hurt his football program. It would hurt his name.
The desire to make a name for ourselves is engrained in all of us. It happened with the tower of Babel. You could even say it happened all the way back in Genesis 3. And sports provide such a great context for us to pursue our name.
I’ve heard many people say that they would never have done what Paterno did (or didn’t do, I suppose). Don’t be deceived though. If making a name for yourself is at the center of your life…you’ll be surprised what you are capable of when that name is threatened. This side of the garden, it’s not a question of if we are seeking our name, it’s a question of how.
The good news is that through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus, we have the Holy Spirit-driven power to not live for our own names but to live for His name. The desire to make God’s name famous–to make it mean something–gives us significance that can never be taken away or threatened.
I pray for you and I that the desire to make God’s name mean something would permeate every area of our lives, especially sports.
