What if..... a sad day in Columbus
I never imagined when I watched the National Championship game between the University of Miami Hurricanes and The Ohio State Buckeyes in January of 2002, that it would also be the last game of a young and promising running back named Maurice Clarett. The latest in this ongoing saga came this past week as he was caught with 4 loaded guns and wearing a bulletproof vest, all this at 3am in the morning......Mr. Clarett was already preparing for a trial in which he was to answer to charges of a robbery earlier in the year. So much potential, so much promise for an exciting career in the NFL, but the question on everyone's mind is "what happened"?
While I'm not 100% sure of all the details of this young man's life it is so apparent on so many levels that he either looked to the wrong people for guidance or made some very, very bad choices. My guess is a little of both. While finishing his first (and last) year at OSU, it was determined that he had falsely reported that some merchandise had been stolen from his car only to open a can of worms into the possibility of receiving unauthorized money from an unknown source. This was just the beginning of this young man's woes. He unsuccessfully tried to get the NFL to draft him early and was soundly denied. So he sat for a year and was drafted by the Denver Broncos in the third round. But he was then ceremoniously cut by the team. His last and final chance to play football (Arena Football) was squashed this week.
Now he is forced to look to some long time behind bars. The saddest thing is that he was supposedly caught in the same neighborhood as a witness to his current trial for robbery. This will not bode well for him at all, if found to be true. I cannot fathom what he was contemplating nor can I fathom the possibilties of what could have happened had he been able to keep his car from swerving in the road which caught the attention of the police in the first place.
I remember a few years ago doing a Men's bible study in my home. The name of the study was "Choices" and we discussed how every decision that we make has a effect on the lives of those around us. The scriptures tell us "choose this day whom you will serve"......Each day that we awake we have a decision to serve the enemy or our souls or serve the Lord. I remember discussing some other OSU football players who were dismissed from the team for beating someone and attempting to rob them. We also discussed the plight of two young men, one which was named Mr. Basketball in Ohio high school sports and by chance played for Ohio State (hmmm!) decided to rob Cleveland Indians pitcher C.C. Sabathia for his jewelry and $3500 in cash (only God knows why CC was carrying that kind of money, but that's another blog) Of course that still doesn't make it right to rob anyone.
So what if Mr. Clarett was able to accomplish what he set out to do that fateful night? Apparently according to news reports, he had a half a bottle of liquor that he had been drinking so he was definetely not in the greatest frames of mind when he was finally stopped by police. What if he decided not to go the bar and wait for someone to come out and rob them of their valuables? I am a strong believer in the fact that God does intervene in our lives for His purposes. Mr. Clarett probably doesn't realize it, but it was probably God who thwarted his failed attempt to do whatever Satan had put into his mind that night to do. Whether he ever realizes it, remains to be seen. One thing is for sure, God still loves him and wants to save his soul. Unfortunately he will have to pay for his sins, but God can and will forgive him if he decides to accept it. We cannot judge this man, for God will judge him in the end but we can pray that he seeks the forgiveness that only God can provide for God wishes that "no man perishes but has everlasting life.
Next: A Modern Day Sodom and Gomorrah
While I'm not 100% sure of all the details of this young man's life it is so apparent on so many levels that he either looked to the wrong people for guidance or made some very, very bad choices. My guess is a little of both. While finishing his first (and last) year at OSU, it was determined that he had falsely reported that some merchandise had been stolen from his car only to open a can of worms into the possibility of receiving unauthorized money from an unknown source. This was just the beginning of this young man's woes. He unsuccessfully tried to get the NFL to draft him early and was soundly denied. So he sat for a year and was drafted by the Denver Broncos in the third round. But he was then ceremoniously cut by the team. His last and final chance to play football (Arena Football) was squashed this week.
Now he is forced to look to some long time behind bars. The saddest thing is that he was supposedly caught in the same neighborhood as a witness to his current trial for robbery. This will not bode well for him at all, if found to be true. I cannot fathom what he was contemplating nor can I fathom the possibilties of what could have happened had he been able to keep his car from swerving in the road which caught the attention of the police in the first place.
I remember a few years ago doing a Men's bible study in my home. The name of the study was "Choices" and we discussed how every decision that we make has a effect on the lives of those around us. The scriptures tell us "choose this day whom you will serve"......Each day that we awake we have a decision to serve the enemy or our souls or serve the Lord. I remember discussing some other OSU football players who were dismissed from the team for beating someone and attempting to rob them. We also discussed the plight of two young men, one which was named Mr. Basketball in Ohio high school sports and by chance played for Ohio State (hmmm!) decided to rob Cleveland Indians pitcher C.C. Sabathia for his jewelry and $3500 in cash (only God knows why CC was carrying that kind of money, but that's another blog) Of course that still doesn't make it right to rob anyone.
So what if Mr. Clarett was able to accomplish what he set out to do that fateful night? Apparently according to news reports, he had a half a bottle of liquor that he had been drinking so he was definetely not in the greatest frames of mind when he was finally stopped by police. What if he decided not to go the bar and wait for someone to come out and rob them of their valuables? I am a strong believer in the fact that God does intervene in our lives for His purposes. Mr. Clarett probably doesn't realize it, but it was probably God who thwarted his failed attempt to do whatever Satan had put into his mind that night to do. Whether he ever realizes it, remains to be seen. One thing is for sure, God still loves him and wants to save his soul. Unfortunately he will have to pay for his sins, but God can and will forgive him if he decides to accept it. We cannot judge this man, for God will judge him in the end but we can pray that he seeks the forgiveness that only God can provide for God wishes that "no man perishes but has everlasting life.
Next: A Modern Day Sodom and Gomorrah
posted by Ray at 6:26 PM
1 Comments:
Very good story, Ray! And, it shows what happens when a person makes a wrong choice. As you wrote, each day we make choices that define who we are....
Excellent points!
Toni
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