Attitude Worth The Headlines

Attitude Worth the Headlines

Stop condemning each other. Decide instead to live in such a way that you will not cause another believer to stumble and fall. Romans 14:13

It happened June 2, 2010, in Comerica Park in Detroit. You may remember that the call and signal by American League first-base umpire Jim Joyce was emphatic and immediate. “Safe!” And it was wrong.

Cleveland Indian shortstop Jason Donald was out by a half step for what should have been the final out to a perfect game pitched by the Detroit Tigers’ Armando Galarraga. It would have been just the twenty-first perfect game pitched in Major League Baseball history, and the first ever by a Detroit Tigers pitcher.

Yet watching Galarraga’s reaction after the call, you would never have known that he had just been unfairly denied a place in baseball history. Jim Joyce, reviewing the play after the game, admitted he blew the call. “I just cost that kid a perfect game. I thought [Donald] beat the throw. I was convinced he beat the throw, until I saw the replay.”

Officially, it will not be recognized as a perfect game.

Unofficially, it always will be a perfect game.

And how the aftermath was handled by the two central figures in that Wednesday afternoon’s “non-perfect” game may very well always be recognized as one of baseball’s perfect moments. A “non-perfect perfect moment.”

Armando Galarraga and Jim Joyce will be remembered, not so much for their role in the game or the missed call, but for how they handled it—Joyce, a respected twenty-two-year veteran umpire, for tearfully and apologetically admitting to everyone, but most importantly to Armando Galarraga, that he made a mistake; and Galarraga, for the calm, classy, and forgiving way he handled the situation and respectfully and forgivingly treated Jim Joyce, from the moment it happened through every moment thereafter.

It’s almost as if both men were showing us how to behave in circumstances where things don’t go our way. They didn’t resort to judgment or criticism of the other person, even though one was clearly in the wrong. They demonstrated that we need to forgive, apologize, admit that we’ve been there and may be again, and move on. They showed that a person can handle moments of conflict and disagreement with class and grace.

Stop passing judgment, even if you believe you have the right to do so. It only escalates the situation and makes it more difficult to achieve harmony. And among Christians, less judgment means better relationships and more accomplishments for His Kingdom.

Uncommon Key > If you disagree with a decision that affects you, instead of condemning the person, forgive. Instead of rendering judgment, offer grace.