“And I am sure that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.” -Philippians 1:6
Nick Saban is the head football coach of the University of Alabama. He is, by most standards, one of the best college football coaches of all time. He has a career record as a head coach is 232-63-1. He has coached his teams to six national championships and his list of personal and team awards is as long as any other coach today.
Coach Saban recently made the news for a viral video that caught my attention and it was not about football. In a press conference, Nick Saban shared his feelings about how he treats his players who have made significant mistakes. This video was originally filmed in 2014. In this address to the media Nick Saban says, “Everyone wants to know how you are going to punish these young men, but few want to know about how they will get a second chance?” In this speech Saban makes it clear that too many people want to condemn the players who make mistakes. Saban offers the correction as he says the real question should be, “Where do you want them to be?” The statement is a response to some who questioned if Coach Saban was to lenient on his athletes who have been in trouble.
I believe the question suggested by Nick Saban is much in line with our faith and a good question for us to consider. We all know people who have made mistakes. We all see people in the public eye who have made missteps. How do we, as a people of faith, treat others? I believe we must resist the desire to simply punish. We must consider if our actions are helping or hurting another person. When we offer grace to those who have slipped up we give them an opportunity to become something different.
When God shares his love and grace with us, I believe it is to help us become a better version of the person we are today. As those who have received grace, we must also be those who share grace. When we encounter others, a good question to ask is, “Where do you want them to be?”
Rev. Keith King, Pastor of Worship
