I have been meaning to send a message to our senior leadership regarding the recent embarrassment that Governor Sanford’s actions have caused our state. I have been far too busy to do so. That is probably a good thing, since the passage of time generally lends more appropriate perspective.

 

Governor Sanford is my boss and my friend. I have known him for ten years and like so many others, I was shocked by this episode. Let me be a little more precise. I was not shocked to learn that the governor is an imperfect sinner and that he stumbled. I was shocked that he fell to the sins of deception and infidelity: those were out of character for most who know him. And, I was shocked by how quickly he became blinded by this sin.

 

With apologies to my friend Buster Brown, Pastor of East Cooper Baptist Church in Mt. Pleasant, here is what I know: All of us are “one dumb decision away from blowing it.” Sin blinds us. It makes us stupid. It destroys. Sin promises wonderful dividends but it leads to destruction.

 

And, left unattended, sin will destroy character: it will eventually transform a person of good character into a person or bad character.

 

But, I also know that character is different from reputation. Reputation is merely what others think they know about us. It varies from person to person, location to location, group to group. Reputation can be affected by mere words. It can be damaged and even destroyed by lies. Character is different.

 

Governor Sanford’s decisions were a failure of character. And, those decisions were, no doubt, doing damage to his good character by clouding his judgment and hardening his conscience. But, just as good character cannot be developed in a single season of time, by one good decision or series of decisions; it cannot be destroyed by a single bad decision, series of decisions or even a season of sin.

 

Our family has been praying for our governor. We are praying for his wonderful wife and our friend, Jenny. We are praying for the restoration of their marriage and the protection of their boys.

 

All of those things may come to pass, but other consequences cannot be undone. In our professions, we work with men and women who are living those consequences. Some are truly repentant. They have restored relationships, both vertically and horizontally. But, most of the consequences of their bad choices cannot be undone. Likewise, we have all seen friends and fellow employees make bad decisions with terrible consequences. Even when they ‘recover’ from those decisions, many of the consequences remain.

 

My children know many such stories from the Bible. But, real life experience is a great teacher as well.

 

In the immediate aftermath of this episode, I have looked repeatedly into the eyes of my four children and begged them to consider all the loss, all the pain, and all of the damage that will result from the once hidden sin of one man: “Take a snapshot of those images in your mind and never forget. Never forget.”

 

Be safe and have a great week.