By the way, the friend who invited us to see Tiger Woods is the one who worked so hard preparing to beat me at golf last month. However, I am truly grateful that he chose to share with me his prized club house tickets given to him by his daughter. I’m also grateful to have spent the day with someone who was a role model and spiritual mentor to me when I was a young husband, father, and minister. As well it was an honor to spend the day with my youngest son. Believe me; I never want to take for granted or miss opportunities like this one to spend time sharing words of life and wisdom with my sons.
Like many others, my son and I were shocked and sadden Saturday when we finally learned of the death of former Ravens’ player Steve McNair. The four-time Pro Bowler, who shared his NFL’s MVP award with Peyton Manning, was known on the football field, simply as “Air McNair.” Publicly, McNair was portrayed as a happily married man and a proud father of four sons. However, Saturday McNair was presumably shot to death by his 20 year old girlfriend, who was found dead with a single bullet wound to her head.
All of us are aware of the easy drugs, alcohol and women that athletes and entertainers are tempted with. However, a simple father-to-son talk or a man-to-man conversation by some wise male in McNair's life might have prevented his death.
The truth is that many men either never got the message that might have saved Steve McNair’s life, or simply deleted it from their mental rolodex. We can assume former president Bill Clinton, former mayor Kwame Kirkpatrick, soon to be former governor Mark Sanford, and the Laker's Kobe Bryant also never got the message. Therefore, let me share with you the message I have shared with my own sons, as well as the sons under my spiritual care.
The message is not new. It is actually one of many ancient lessons taught my King Solomon to his son.
For sound advice is a beacon,
good teaching is a light,
moral discipline is a life path.
They'll protect you from wanton women,
from the seductive talk of some temptress.
Don't lustfully fantasize on her beauty,
nor be taken in by her bedroom eyes.
You can buy an hour with a whore for a loaf of bread,
but a wanton woman may well eat you alive.
Adultery is a brainless act,
soul-destroying, self-destructive;
Expect a bloody nose, a black eye,
and a reputation ruined for good.*
This week, help spare the life and reputation of the males that you know by sharing with them this important message. I would also encourage fathers and spiritual fathers to find some time to walk your sons through the goldmine of wisdom found in the book of Proverbs. A chapter a day will only take one month. A chapter a month will be completed in about seven months. The life you save might just be your own.
*Proverbs 6:23-34 (The Message)
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