Into the Fire

Many of you don't know who this couple is. Many of you have just been made aware of them because their business has been plastered all over the internet, newspapers, and television. The young lady is Janay Rice and the young man on her left is her husband Ray Rice, former or recently "ex" running back for the Baltimore Ravens. The NFL (National Football League) has perpetuated Ray Rice's punishment for an incident in a casino elevator after first issuing a two-game suspension.

Oh the outrage! He decked his then fiancée and dragged her out of the elevator. She is rumored to have spit on him, and the infamous video makes it clear they were fighting. It's likely alcohol was involved in their fracas. They made amends, they sought counseling, she married him, they publically apologized to family, friends, coaches, team members, and fans. Ray Rice was suspended for two regular season games. Until the entire video surfaced, and he is seen giving her a stinging punch in which she fell back, hit her head on the elevator railing and was out cold. He drags her from the elevator.

I once worked for an older gentleman on the racetrack who happened to be black. He'd seen some horrific things growing up in the south. He once played a mean game of baseball he said, but a horse reared up and came down hard on him, crippling his leg, so he walked with a limp and a cane. He told me plenty of stories, some funny, some sad, some ugly. He knew prejudice intimately. No one really knew how old he was – except perhaps his younger girlfriend who happened to be white. He implied the date of birth on his driver's license wasn't accurate.

He told me there was nothing meaner than an angry black woman. He also told me he'd never hit a woman – unless she laid her hands on him. That wouldn't fly, and if she chose to do that, she would get what she gave.

I agree you don't hit women. I disagree that there is never a case for hitting a woman. I will clarify there is never a case for beating a woman. But this doesn't give women the choice to hit, berate, slug, spit on, and generally go off physically on a man. Personally speaking, I know very few men who could stand there and take it. If walking away is not an option: look out. You reap what you sow.

I find this whole circumstance despicable but not for the reasons all of the self-righteous pundits and outraged women – and men - are parading their comments and literal hatred for Ray Rice. This couple made some very poor decisions on the public stage. They're paying for their choices. But is their wrongdoing really deserving of this young man's livelihood being stripped from him? He not only apologized, he and his wife are attending counseling. They married each other after this incident. 

The fact they chose to repent, marry each other, and are participating in counseling looks like they're seriously trying to mend their ways to prevent another episode of this magnitude from ever happening again. Janay Rice loves her husband. Just because they both acted stupidly doesn't mean they can't learn from their mistakes and better themselves. Now of course that's not guaranteed, but the fact that they're seeking ways to rectify their failings should count for something. Shouldn't it?

Relationships are complex by nature. Some people make them difficult but learn to correct those things which provoke their mates. They work at it. And it's hard. Any married couple who's willing to tell the truth will admit it's not always easy. Love must overcome.

The NFL has turned into a political cess pool. I love football, and I hate that this commissioner is ruining the game. He solicited a place for the "first openly gay football player" on other teams' practice squads after the player was cut by the team who drafted him. This has never been done for any other rookie! So being gay earns you preferential treatment in the NFL? That's a sorry "qualification" for any game.

Now the punishment given to Ray Rice wasn't "enough" according to viewers of the video revealing this couple's elevator fight, so BOOM! end of Ray Rice's career indefinitely. One altercation with his girl, and he's done because all of the "noble" pundits and hysterical women want him terminated – some literally!

I find it all so in need of Jesus' actions when confronted with the adulterous woman. "Let him who is without sin cast the first stone." To her, He said, "Go and sin no more."

Ray and Janay Rice made an ugly mistake in their relationship, in their personal conduct, and in light of their visibility and responsibility to each other and to their families, friends, fans, and teammates. They apologized. They took actions to correct their behaviors. And the powers-that-be said, "Not good enough." I find all of the outraged women, pundits, coaches, the Commissioner, and anyone else demanding Ray Rice's termination far more offensive than I do this couple. I hope the same judgment is applied to each of them the next time they do something wrong.

Father, I pray you would mend the hearts of this couple, provide the answers they need, look after them, and counsel them as only you can do. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.