It's a sports story that both males and females can discuss. In case you don't know what I'm talking about, let me recap. On April 1st (ironically), Bobby Petrino, the head football coach at the University of Arkansas, wrecked his motorcycle. He suffered a couple broken ribs and severe "road rash" on his face. The first statement released said he was alone on the bike.
Turns out he had a passenger. Yes, 51-year-old Bobby Petrino, married father of four, had a 24-year-old female (who wasn't his wife) on the back of the motorcycle when the crash happened.
Turns out that passenger, Jessica Dorrell, was an Arkansas athletic department employee who was hired only days before by Petrino as the student-athlete development coordinator.
Turns out she got the job (presumably) because she had been having an "inappropriate relationship" with Petrino for a "significant period of time". She's also received $20,000 from Petrino personally in the last six months.
A blog post from Greg Gilbert, a big Arkansas fan, intrigued me. This was written before Jeff Long (Arkansas' Athletic Director) fired Bobby Petrino, but what it says is a bit of wisdom for all of us:
"This dark cloud was created by the choices of two people and as usual, bad choices will eventually land your ox (or Harley) in the ditch. As Mr. Long stated in the news conference, there is no committee. He will ultimately make this decision and We aren’t He. Hang with me. I want us to agree on something.
Point # 1. In most decisions or choices in life we are given two very visible options. Yes or No? Left or Right? Up or Down? Let me throw in two more options. Selfish or Selfless? A selfish decision considers ME and ME only. What I want and what I think is best for ME right now. A selfless decision considers the impact on others. Most people with high integrity will realize that a decision that benefits others will in turn, benefit them also. Can we agree that normally there are two routes and one is selfish and the other selfless?
Point # 2. Every decision Bobby Petrino and Jessica Dorrell made in the creation of this dark cloud was selfish. No one else was considered. The consideration of a spouse, fiancée, child, university, state or fan was nowhere in site. Don’t you just hate it when a decision impacts you and you are not consulted? (Sorry, don’t have time to talk about D.C. and politics.) None of us were even a glimmer in their mind. Can we agree that all decisions by the two parties were totally selfish?"
In this Petrino situation, no one comes out ahead. It's a lose-lose-lose-lose-lose equation when you consider Petrino, his wife, his kids, Dorrell, and her fiance.
Choices made by two people have significant, short and long-term effects on others. How many others? Let's think it through. Besides Petrino and Dorrell, Petrino's family, Dorrell's fiance, you must think about the assistant coaches for the Arkansas football team and their families. Why them? Because the new coach may not keep all the assistants; those ousted assistants will be looking for another job even though they did nothing wrong. And don't forget the Arkansas fans. They had just tasted success with their football program. Now it comes crashing down.
Choices made by two people messed up the lives of countless others.
Choices, choices, choices.
Thinking of choices brought me to a question I ask both me and you, "As a Christian, are you choosing to follow Jesus every day?"
If you are a Christian, you have your "fire insurance". But we are not to stop at just a decision to have Christ as our savior. We are commanded to follow in Christ's footsteps in the way we live.
Our scripture passages this week (Sunday at 9:50 a.m.) are Galatians 2:19-21, Romans 6:1-7, and John 15:1-5. We'll see what Paul and John have to say to us about being crucified with Christ, raised with Christ, and productive with Christ.
Finish Friday strong. Enjoy Saturday with your family. See you Sunday!
Loyally yours,
Darren Bayne
“The choices we make by accident are just as important as
the choices we make by design.” Dr. Shad
Helmstetter
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