I sat up late last night watching Peter Gammons of ESPN interview Alex Rodriguez about his steroid use. A-Rod (or A-Roid as a NYC newspaper called him this morning) was implicated as a steroid user when his name was leaked from a “secret” list of steroid users during a period of preliminary testing in 2003. A-Rod admitted to using “substances” while he played for the Texas Rangers from 2001-2003.
A-Rod was the great hope. Sluggers like Bonds, Sosa, and McGwire shattered home run records in the late 90s and 2000′s, yet found their achievements under a black cloud of steroid suspicion. The Mitchell Report indicted pitchers like Clemens and Pettite who were at the top of their era or even history. A-Rod is on pace to break Aaron’s old record and past Bonds’ mark as well. He was going to redeem all that was lost in the Steroid Era. So now what? A black cloud for him too? Out of the Hall of Fame?
Well, the problems plaguing Major League Baseball are not unique. I see it happen in my world everyday – the Church. Just yesterday, my pastor, Dan Yeary, shared of a 40-something minister, married with 2 teenage kids, who compromised his character in a major way that now has him ready to depart from church work permanently. Ted Haggard sat on Larry King Live recently to discuss more allegations and more confessions of sexual impropriety. I could go on for a long time, listing off the litany of leaders that I have seen from near and far away that have compromised their character.
In our day, we have become increasingly enamored with talent and technology. Someone will become a rising star because they are a great orator or networker. Someone will become a rising star because of their artistic ability or their creativity. They will gain new incredible opportunities that were unprecedented before for someone so young or inexperienced.
The same thing happens over and over again. They gain a new role that they have the talent and ability for, but they lack the character. And so they compromise and fall. Yes, in that moment, redemption and restoration is possible. Forgiveness is merited and they (like all of us) deserve another chance. But the consequences reach far and wide – far beyond their own life and even their own family. The impact of one person is beyond our imagination – for the common good or selfishness.
One of the greatest challenges for leaders today is not to develop their talent, utilize their creativity, enlarge their network or sharpen their communication. The greatest challenge may be to give attention to their character, so that the great things they accomplish with their life do not drown underneath the weight of their inability to lead and succeed with character.
Allow God to build your character, so that who you are will be able to sustain what you are asked to do in the future. We have heard the A-Rod story enough to have learned our lesson by now.
-Scott
I was driving home from class last night. One week closer to graduation. I was making it through the curves of the 202 West between the Airport Exit and 44th Street when it just hit me. I was working through some things that have been happening in my life and all of the sudden, a thought emerged from the chaos…and suddenly, one realization became crystal clear. 
