I grew up in Indiana.  Every Memorial Day my parents washed the windows on the house and listened to the Indy 500 on the radio.  We wanted to know who would win.    The “Greatest Spectacle in Racing” was more exciting when cars, wall, and drivers collided.  Who was it? Was anyone seriously hurt? 

There’s a whole army of people out there just waiting for Tim Tebow to crash and burn.   Tebow is that rare person who is publicly living his life with integrity.  He lifts up his faith in Jesus, he thanks God for his blessings, he shares his wealth with others, and he helps those in need.  For many of us, he is an inspiration.  For others, he is “the greatest spectacle in football”.  They are waiting, like vultures, for the first mistake he makes so they can say “I told you so.  He’s a hypocrite like the rest of us.” 

The reality is – Tim Tebow will make poor choices.  He’s human, after all – we all make mistakes.  It will be in those moments that his character and integrity will be tested, refined, and strengthened. Will he be sincerely regretful and make amends as quickly as possible?  That is the mark of an ‘Integrity Fanatic’.  We don’t do everything right, we’re not perfect – in fact we screw up a lot.  But my prayer for Tim Tebow, myself, and fellow fanatics is that when we do, we’ll repent, sincerely apologize, and make amends. 

It’s the crashes of life that build character, integrity, and faith.

Churches aren’t sanctuaries for saints – they are hospitals for sinners.

Tags: faith, Indy 500, integrity, Jesus, tebowing, Tim Tebow