“When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, ‘Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.'”
–John 8:7

We all have heard/read those familiar words from Jesus at the Mount of Olives. Last night those are the words which came to my mind as I read multiple reactions to Richard Sherman’s interview with Erin Andrews at the end of Sunday’s Seahawks’ game. But his actions set off a chain of events in me, and took me to Jesus. I didn’t see that coming.

As shared in John 8:7, at the Mount of Olives, the teachers of the law and the Pharisees sought to stone a woman for adultery. Instead of being trapped by the Pharisees about the law, Jesus challenged them to look inside themselves as sinners. Last night as I reflected on my own reaction to Sherman’s interview I had to look at myself. While my voice is not as “colorful” and no where near as audible as Sherman’s, I must say I know in the heat of a racquetball game I have thoughts I am glad no one hears. Thoughts, where if my language WAS more colorful, and my voice WAS more loud it would not be good. Whether on the field of athletics, or with a spouse, or at work, or with our children, or lives are riddled with moments that heighten our emotions in a way we may later regret or even be ashamed of. Sins of the heart, not so much the lips.

The actions of others should give us pause to look inside our own hearts…to judge not them but ourselves.

“But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.'”
–Luke 18:13

I like Rich Sherman’s fire and emotion. His desire to be the best. Just so we’re clear. I wish I had some of that.

My wish is that he would take it down a notch or two so I’m more comfortable with how he represents the Seahawks, people of color, athletes, and people in general. So I’m more comfortable? Really? Maybe that’s another part of the bottom line.

Sherman’s reactions were uncomfortable for me. At times my own actions are uncomfortable to me. They should be. I am a sinner. That discomfort should give me pause–cause me to reflect and in return spend some time with God in self-reflection. Praying for forgiveness. That interview with Richard Sherman, eventually, caused me to spend time in His Word asking for my own forgiveness. Time I may have spent otherwise. Sin in my own life I may not have otherwise reflected on.

Jesus’ final words to the adulterer, “Go now and leave your life of sin.” His words weren’t about the past, but about the present, about the future. And so I leave you with some other words I read this morning:

“Start where you are.
Use what you have.
Do what you can.”
–Arthur Ashe