“Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” — Ephesians 4:32
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The final play of Super Bowl XXV would go down as a moment of infamy in sports history. Buffalo Bills kicker Scott Norwood missed a 47-yard field goal attempt wide right that would have won the game and secured an NFL championship. One can only imagine the guilt, sadness and loneliness he felt in that moment. How could he go on to face his teammates and fans knowing he let them down?
Many of Norwood’s teammates, who some may have expected to be bitter with Norwood, could not have been more sympathetic. They visited his hotel room that very night to comfort him, letting him know he was not solely responsible for the loss. While he likely found some encouragement in the support he received from his teammates, the thought of facing the fans was a whole different challenge. Sports fans tend to be the toughest and most unforgiving critics, not holding back harsh and blunt opinions, heckling and jeers.
So, when the team returned to Buffalo and the city hosted a rally, it was only natural that Norwood initially chose to sit backstage and not face the crowd. In a surprising turn of events, the Bills fans broke out into a chant of “We want Scott! We want Scott!” Sheepishly, Norwood eventually went out to face the crowd, and rather than facing the chorus of boo and taunts he was anticipating, he was greeted to a loud, warm applause!
Forgiveness is a tough thing to do and does not come naturally. Yet, in Scripture we are commanded, “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you” (Ephesians 4:32). The “why?” is clearly stated: We forgive others because God forgave us to a far greater extent. There is also a “so what?” worth considering: Forgiveness has a lasting impact that goes beyond just making the offender (or even ourselves) feel better. In Psalms, David describes the state of being forgiven as, “How blessed is he whose wrongdoing is forgiven, whose sin is covered!” (32:1, NASB). In this passage, David was describing a renewed condition after seeking forgiveness. He elaborates more on this transformation in his prayer of repentance in a later Psalm: “Create in me a clean heart, God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me” (51:10, NASB).
Forgiveness includes an opportunity for the offender to grow and be changed by God. When we forgive others, we get to play a role in that process.
When Norwood addressed the crowd chanting his name, he made a promise that he was going to do everything he could to help the Bills bring home a Super Bowl title the next season. While the Bills did not win in their return trip to Super Bowl XXVI the following year, they would not have even made the big game if it weren’t for Norwood. He did not miss a single kick that postseason, and even kicked the game-winning field goal in the AFC Championship Game! The support after his missed Super Bowl kick served as motivation to be a better player for his team and their fans.
Likewise, the grace we show others when they fall short can spur them on to spiritual growth and restoration. When faced with an opportunity to forgive, rather than dwell on someone’s past failures, let’s focus on their potential future victory.
— David Kosydar
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