Andrew Breitbard, who hosts the website BigGovernment.com, posted a video on his site which seemed to cast Sherrod as a racist. Almost immediately, Sherrod's supervisor demanded Sherrod's resignation.
 
During the course of the next several hours, however, the public learned that the excerpt of Sherrod's comments posted on Breitbard's website were taken out of context to the degree of slandering Sherrod. The public also learned that the statements were made and recorded 24 years ago in a talk in which Sherrod's clear message was that racism was wrong and that she personally had experienced a change of her own heart and mind around race issues.
 
 
My blood pressure was hovering around orange as this story developed, but when I heard Andrew Breitbard characterize the person who turned the tape over to him (or portion of the tape) as a Good Samaritan, I hit red. Really? Have I missed the point all these years? I thought the Good Samaritan crossed lines of segregation to offer kindness and care. I didn't realize the Good Samaritan actually hunted down the robbers, testified against them, and rested only after they were punished.
 
In instance after instance it seems we have deteriorated from those who would edify and undergird to those who would accuse and undermine. We've become, as a good friend of mine mused, a people of watchdog mentality--not going out and doing good, but setting ourselves up to point out the not good. We find over and over in individuals, in clubs and organizations, and yes, even in churches, those who are not nearly as interested in spreading the Good News as they are in uncovering and disseminating the Bad News.
 
Not wanting to be one of those who only complains and offers no solutions, I'm going to suggest a way of turning the tide. I suggest that we each start playing the "Gotcha!" game with different rules. I'm advocating the kind of "Gotcha!" I've seen practiced in schools and retail stores and even on city streets. The kind in which the goal is to catch someone doing good.
 
You know the old saying, "You can always find what you're looking for"? How about for the rest of this week dedicating yourself to looking for good. Did you see that girl pick up those dropped Dr. Pepper cans that clearly weren't hers? How about a thank you? She doesn't need it, but she probably would like it just the same. Did you see that guy stop to help change that flat? How about going back and taking him some water or holding your umbrella to keep the Texas sun off him? Know anyone who's advocated for something you care about lately or put the good of the many ahead of their personal good? A thank you letter might be old fashioned, but I bet it would bring a smile.
 
We've become people who will criticize LeBron James incessantly for his over-the-top ESPN "Announcement Show" while failing to acknowledge that all the profits from the show went to the Boys and Girls Clubs of America-over $2.5 million. I guarantee that a lot of young men and women will be "built up" through that gift, but no one was built up by our criticism.
 
Progress and growth often mean leaving things behind, but I'm pretty certain of this: We won't progress and we won't grow unless we take edification along with us. In fact, I might suggest that along with faith, edification be one of the cornerstones of our new church home. Now we just need two more...
 
Always in Hope,