| | Shamelessly stolen from (but apologetically attributed to) Ricky's blog:
SEARCH FOR AN HONEST MAN
I love this story which reportedly came from Sports Illustrated (I do not know which issue):
The game was played in Wellington, Florida.
In it, a seven-year-old first baseman, Tanner Munsey, fielded a ground
ball and tried to tag a runner going from first to second base.
The
umpire, Laura Benson, called the runner out, but young Tanner
immediately ran to her side and said, "Ma'am, I didn't tag the runner."
Umpire Benson reversed herself, sent the runner to second base, and
Tanner's coach gave him the game ball for his honesty.
Two weeks
later, Laura Benson was again the umpire and Tanner was playing
shortstop when a similar play occurred. This time Benson ruled that
Tanner had missed the tag on a runner going to third base, and she
called the runner safe. Tanner looked at Benson and without saying a
word, tossed the ball to the catcher and returned to his position.
Benson sensed something was wrong. "Did you tag the runner?" She asked Tanner.
His reply: "Yes."
Benson
then called the runner out. The opposing coaches protested until she
explained what had happened two weeks earlier. "If a kid is that
honest," she said, "I have to give it to him."
It may be that no
Christian characteristic has suffered more in our society than honesty.
It's lacking in the workplace, it's lacking in many of our marriages,
it's lacking in our government, and sometimes it's even lacking in our
churches. Like Diogenes of ancient Greece, we sometimes feel the urge to take our lantern and begin our search for an honest man.
There
is something about Christians that should stand out like a neon sign on
a dark night. Jesus wants his people to be known as a people of truth.
We should establish a reputation, like Tanner, for speaking the truth
even when it would benefit us to do otherwise. Then, and only then,
will those around us trust what we say without hesitation, without
wondering whether we really mean what we say or not.
"Therefore, putting away lying, each one speak truth with his neighbor, for we are members of one another." (Ephesians 4:25).
May God help you to be that person of truth that Diogenes was looking for (and God still is, too).
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| | Posted 1/5/2006 5:25 PM - 1 view - 2 comments
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