Sports are simple, Simone… part 2

I’m pretty sure I’m the 3,103,928,647^th person to offer up personal thoughts about the dialogue (is what we’ll call it) between Simone Biles and Riley Gaines. Read the first post from yesterday here. A friend of mine read it and pointed something out that I didn’t catch at the time. I stated a few talking points about the situation between the two athletes, mostly stating that Simone’s image will be tarnished for her harsh response to an X post from Riley. I went on to talk about more stuff going on in the entertainment industry and finished with a thought about grace. How we all need it. But this last portion was somewhat incongruent with how I’d presented the Simone/Riley situation. I wasn’t typing with any sort of grace towards Simone, someone who needs grace just as much as I do, as much as Riley does, along with everyone else in the world.

Here’s the thing, though. My showing grace to Simone (or you showing grace to Riley if you find yourself more on Simone’s side of the issue) isn’t really about Simone or Riley at all. They don’t need my grace. They don’t even know me. It’s a lot like one of the Madea Tyler Perry movies. I can’t remember which one but they were talking about forgiveness. I think an elderly mother was imploring her daughter to forgive her cheating husband. But the wise mother said the forgiveness isn’t for him, it’s for her. To forgive him is part of the process of healing for her, virtually unrelated to his acceptance or rejection of that forgiveness. By holding on to the hate, she only hurts herself. To forgive him is to let go of the hate.

Transferring that thought to real life, this grace I should have towards people I don’t agree with (and them towards me) is extended towards the person but it’s to help me not hold a grudge, not be bitter, to have the ability to overlook whatever the offense is. Riley and Simone disagree about transgender involvement in single-sex sports. Riley should show grace to Simone but not for Simone’s sake. It’s for Riley’s heart to remain soft, open, and kind. Simone should show grace towards Riley but not to boost Riley’s ego, rather to let go of bitterness, expectations, and to keep a tender heart.

When I posted what I did yesterday, I could’ve included this part about grace; who it’s for, why it’s important, but I hadn’t really thought about it until I heard from my friend. I think the Lord uses all kinds of situations to help us grow. We’re certainly not born with every admirable quality so today I’m grateful to be even just a tiny bit further down the road towards a guy with characteristics God likes.

-Out of the Wilderness