Mid-Week Meditation

In their love letter to all things hippie, "Mrs. Robinson," Simon and Garfunkel ask the question, "Where have you gone Joe DiMaggio..."  The song writing pair wrote the song for the movie, "The Graduate" to accent the motifs of the movie--all of which revolved around the notion of the need to question societal norms and conventions...and seducing young men.

The line in the song about Joe DiMaggio was intended to spark nostalgia for the sturdy, dependable hero of the past.  The kind of hero who was consistent and downright and forthright and upright.  The kind of hero who was so reliable you could set your watch by him.

Well, these days, as I watch Joe Paterno, an otherwise sturdy hero fall in the Penn State sex abuse scandal, I'm beginning to think it's too much to ask for sturdy old Joe DiMaggio.  Right now, I'd take a Joe Nucksal, a Joe Montana, or even the last guy who made wearing fur coats cool, Joe Namath.

The outrage about the scandal has been sweeping and justified.  Paterno sheltered, enabled and coddled an accused child rapist, Jerry Sandusky, for about a decade.  Paterno, by almost all accounts was made aware that Sandusky was possibly engaged in very violent criminal behavior with children.  Rather than firing Sandusky, or going to the authorities about his behavior, or just punching him in the nose, Paterno did...nothing. 

Hardly, the actions of a hero.   Where have you gone Joe DiMaggio indeed.

While "Mrs. Robinson" does ask where the sturdy leaders like Joe DiMaggio have gone, the song answers its own question when it says, "Jesus loves you more than you will know..."

Of course.  In an age where all of our leaders without exception have been smothered under the weight of their own humanness, we are reminded that Christ and His spotless character and ability to walk in loving kindness has never been contradicted.  We might say He's the last sturdy hero.