complaint

I love to watch some good basketball, so I really don't get into the season until the playoffs. Last night there was a very good game on with a rematch of last year's finals. The Lakers and the Celtics sat atop the west and the east respectively, and the game lived up to all of the day's hype on ESPN. Into overtime the game went with Kobe hitting a couple of clutch 3's, Paul Pierce taking the key shots to keep it right there and Kevin Garnett fouling out. I was bummed to see it on a strange non call on Derrick Fisher and hardly any contact on Garnett's part, but he fouled out nonetheless.

I was glad to see Garnett rise above without whining and just leave the floor. I thought to myself "classy guy." That was until I heard his after game interview on the radio today. He said that they just should have played better, but had to follow that up with a "I'm not sure what is and what isn't a foul..." Aahhhh! Why does everyone whine? why do we have to always have the last word on things? I do it too...I don't seem to take things as they come, I like to have the last word, to make sure to place the blame onto someone else. To complain that I'm not getting a fair shake. I like to mask it in a false humility that half way points to me as the problem but leaving me an out.

We all love it when someone rises above the self love and fully takes blame. Someone who doesn't point fingers at someone else, but understands that to truly lead is to bear the brunt of whatever may come. Even if that is not fair. I think of Jesus, with the soldiers mocking him and the chief priests before him. He didn't even speak. He took the blame. He led strongly, and silently. Allowing the unfair accusations to come and allowing the punishment that was completely undeserved to fall squarely on his wide and capable shoulders. In light of that, whose leadership seems the greatest to follow?