Topical Tuesday 02 - Jerry Jones

The Dallas Cowboys are allegedly America’s team, a moniker granted in the 70s which, for some inexplicable reason, has carried over into today. As America’s team, it would seem only fitting, that they should build a shining example of America’s unbelievable extravagance and dangerous opulence. The new Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, TX cost an estimated $1.2 billion to build; one…point…two…billion…dollars. I’ve seen it from a distance and it is a massive structure that somewhat resembles a giant marshmallow. The stadium seats 80,000 people, has a retractable roof and is the largest domed structure in the world; truly, everything is bigger in Texas.

The massive scale of the stadium also includes the video screen which is suspended in the middle of the stadium. The screen is a Mitsubishi high definition television which measures in at 160 feet wide and 72 feet tall. I’m sure that the screen is a sight to behold and provides a crystal clear view of what is happening on the field. The only problem, though, is that the screen is too low and can easily be hit by a punt. In the first game at the new Cowboys Stadium, the Tennessee Titans’ punter A.J. Trapasso hit the screen while punting the ball during the game. Football coaches and analysts agree that the screen needs to be raised but the owner of the Cowboys, Jerry Jones, disagrees.

Jerry Jones is the 66-year-old owner of the Dallas Cowboys. He is a polarizing figure in sports, mainly due to his hands-on approach with the team. Not only is Jones the owner but he is also the general manager, making all the personnel decisions for the team. Some have suggested that Jones is too involved with the team but he is the owner and he does what he wants; and he does not want to take responsibility for the height of the screen in Cowboys Stadium. Jones says that it isn’t his fault that the screen is too low, the NFL approved the design and he’s not going to change it; he’s not to blame and he won’t take responsibility. After spending $2.1 billion on the stadium, he is not willing to spend $2 million to make the correction. Jones is stubborn and the only thing less likely to change is the expression on his face.

I’ve never made a $2 million mistake. In spite of that, it’s still hard to admit when I’m wrong; it’s still hard to admit that I’m sorry. To this day, apologizing is one of the most difficult things for me to do. Unfortunately for me, an ability to humble ourselves and admit when we’re wrong stands at the center of what it means to live our lives for Christ. We have to be willing to admit when we’re wrong, ask forgiveness and reconcile broken relationships.

In the Sermon on the Mount, in Matthew 5, Jesus says this:

"Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift."

When we’ve wronged someone we need to seek him or her out; Jesus says that we shouldn’t wait. We should strive to live in such a way as not to wrong anyone but, when we inevitably do, we need to be ready and willing to admit we’re wrong and make things right. Honestly, admitting we’re wrong sucks; there is no better way to put it, but we need to be willing to do it. The ability to admit we’re wrong and seek forgiveness is a sign of maturity and humility. It’s a sign which says we are more willing to sacrifice our pride for a relationship than to sacrifice a relationship for our pride.

Who knows how the Cowboys Stadium situation will be resolved. Before its conclusion there will be a lot of posturing and a lot of trying to save face, something with which Jerry Jones is very familiar. A $2 million mistake is a big one and I’m sure it’s very hard to admit to making such a colossal blunder. Thankfully, most of us will never make a mistake that big. But even in our small mistakes and our little offenses, we need to be willing to do the right thing and admit that we’re wrong. We need to find those we’ve wronged, admit our folly and seek forgiveness.

When have you admitted you were wrong and how did it affect a relationship?