When things go wrong we want to make them right. However, the right way is often illusive and even our best attempts at doing the right thing cause further harm. This is part of the human experience. Even when we do our best our limitations are still on display.

The easiest thing to do is identify our differences and the failure of others. Rather than being united around the common cause we become people who are divided. Rather than leaning on the collective shoulder we isolate ourselves into different camps holding our own views of who’s wrong and what should be done.

The continuing strand of tragedies at our beloved Penn State exemplify the limitations of humanity. So the following is an encouragement for us to consider the loss of all involved and to grieve – but to grieve in a redemptive way that sees this beyond a university and community tragedy – to grieve in such a way that in the end unites our hearts and helps us extend grace, forgiveness, and understanding.

The Many Ways We Lost…

The Children lost. No one fought for them. Absent of their own parents or guiding figures they were taken under the wings of someone with dark ulterior motives. Their trust again was broken. They lost when the headlines became about football and not about their injustice. We lost, and continue to lose as a society, when we don’t advocate for our kids, mentor them, or speak encouraging words into their ever forming souls.

JoPa lost – and today we lost him. We lose as we allow a life well lived to be overshadowed by a costly mistake. Culturally we create icons who can do no wrong. Eventually we discover they are human – and punish them for it. We lose when we forget even the (seemingly) greatest among us fail, and fail often. We lose by casting these public figures as gods, placing them on pedestals, and not treating them as human beings. Coach did some great things. Coach also failed. Coach was human. Coach needed grace too.

The Trustees lost. We lose, too, when we think there is a sure-fire right answer. We lose when we forget the pressure placed on those to make impossible decisions. Did they want this for their university? I don’t think so. Did they want to make the decisions they did? I doubt that too. Did they do it perfectly? No, but then nobody did – and that’s what we have to remember. Even working toward what (we think) is right is done in fallible ways.

The Students lost when their identity rested on a university – and not a common bond with greater humanity. We lose when we allow our loyalties to institutions, beliefs, and the like to overcome our loyalty to love our neighbor.

Sandusky lost. This will be controversial and perhaps tick some of you off. But if we are to remember our total human situation we must remember the dark nature that plagues every soul – and if not dealt with grows into the ugliest of inner monsters that destroys what is good. We lose when we don’t confront evil. We lose when we don’t confront the evil within – the evil in all of us.

As we continue grieving I hope it can become bigger and broader – encompassing the entire human situation and not just a (valid) headline lasting a few days or weeks. I hope we can remember the need for grace and forgiveness. I hope we can remember we are stronger together – united in peace, love, and understanding – as fellow human beings.

Borrowing from the Penn State cheer I’ve called out sitting in Beaver Stadium many times…

We are…

human.