Name and Reputation have always ALWAYS been more significant than justice and honesty. That has been proven by what Christianity has done for and with the name, Jesus Christ. Loyalty will always be the first choice until one is tested. That has been proven with Job’s dilemma. Character has continuously been secondary. That was also substantiated when Judas kissed Jesus. Decent morals have been the constant conditional. They, the morals set-forth by indigenous faith systems were delicately established without the confinement of institutionalized man made religion long before Catholicism and Jesus – but morals often times are regulated to an ancillary position within human decision making.
To Do the Right Thing is a conveniently noble decision when you are comfortably sitting on the outside looking in the glass house. Bottom line, without any doubt, Name has to be protected even when the shattering house’s activities are potentially embarrassing or adversely harmful! Dirty deeds will be forever done in the dark with the certainty of coming to the light at the end of our tunnels.
The Penn State saga has not been taken lightly by me. I am actually losing sleep. I restlessly awake thinking about what JoePa (Joe Paterno) may have been thinking when he decided not to do enough… when he decided not to protect the innocence’s of a child.
*Card Owned by The Pseudo Preacher, signed by JoePa 2001
JoePa is synonymous with Legend. A Legend is held in the highest regard. A Legend is the Example. A Legend is what human’s need to access and assess faith. Faith in the decency of mankind. None of us want to believe that we are capable of dishonoring God’s purpose. But, in fact we are proficiently capable no matter where we stand…in the pulpit or sitting in the pews. We are intentionally governed by the Wolf.
In all humanoid achievement and glory, we are the most conflicted mammals alive. And, we should cautiously embrace that considering we are the Fallen Fruits (off-springs) of our Father’s duality. God’s actions, just like ours, can be classified as Evil and Good. We destroy ourselves day after day. On some occasions we have no idea that we are depleting our souls…making our inner-self devoid of affability. We become lukewarm and cold while attempting to cover. Cover self from our guilt, or cover for someone’s guilt. In the final analysis, we are emotionally polluted creatures seeking grace, faith, understanding and celestial forgiveness. The latter, Forgiveness, is our only saving Grace. Sadly, that is taken for granted and utilized much too often!
JoePa took the news of child molestation under singular advisement. He initially consulted with himself, and perhaps he later petitioned God to assist him with the Bad News. Without understanding all the dynamics of God, how can we be certain that God’s consultation did not provide JoePa with: Remain Silent? We do have the Right to Remain Silent. Some have kept their lips sealed to protect their spouse…that’s legal.
Legal does not mean Right. It simply means that something is permissible. JoePa gave himself permission to destroy his Legacy. At that moment when the graduate assistant confided in JoePa, in that flash of time; Joseph Vincent Paterno permanently tarnished his Legacy; and he proceeded to do what all colleges and universities have done for centuries:
Protect the Name
Women have been raped on college campuses with ease – and freely unprosecuted to Protect the Name. So much has been done behind the drape of indecency to Protect the Name and Reputation of men/women charged with caring for The University.
The Aaron of the Hebrew Bible was requested by Moses to erect an altar with a curtain. Moses gave Aaron specific instructions. The instructions were extremely detailed and strict. The purpose of the curtain was to shield anyone who wanted to pray behind it. It was to be and was a place of peace and solitude. It was the one location that was designated for conversing with God.
As I go on…really move on from this internal struggle I am left wishing JoePa would have come from behind the curtain willingly prepared to waive his Right to be Silent.
Legacy’s are often times void of scandalous disruption because no one comes forward with a crushing truth in that coveted effort to Protect the Name. Legacy’s are meant to be beyond reproach. Legacy’s are fragile because we are weak humans that hide misdeeds. One misdeed that is unforgiveable is the harm of a child…some believe…and I concur!
All transgressions should be treated as the Christian’s iniquity, all Sin is Sin. So, JoePa will not get a pass thanks to the 15 year old reporting of Jerry Sandusky revolting behavior. The philandering man inside of Martin Luther King, Jr. did not get a pass either thanks to Ralph Abernathy. Lord knows that I wish both
Legendary men would have spent a little more time behind Aaron’s creation. A creation made to give us (man/women) one final opportunity to leave an unblemished Legacy.
Perhaps, this gloomy moment in the illustrious history of Penn State will help me and others clean-up, sweep around our doors so that our Legacy’s will be above board, and not in need of John the Baptist’s reconfirming act of baptismal. Baptizing Jesus was done to fulfill all righteousness…God pronounced, "This is my beloved son, in whom I am well pleased”. Then The Ministry began…JoePa’s ministry is complete. Sealed with a self-induced Crucifixion.
GUESS I BETTER GET TO IT,
…the morally corrupt things I have done… (SMH) …Hold me under water for a long time; no African Methodist Episcopal Zion sprinkle will suffice, My Lord!!
The Pseudo Preacher
