Broken Promise
Recently I lost a friend that I used to work with. His name was Chris. It was 106 days from the diagnosis of his cancer until his death. So, it was a fairly aggressive cancer development. Unfortunately, it left him in constant pain during that period.
In accordance with his wishes, his family asked those who attended the funeral to wear either Chiefs or KU Jayhawks attire. I had neither. Now, before I tell you more, I need to share a back story.
Way back in 2016, Colin Kaepernick knelt during the National Anthem to protest police brutality and racial inequality. It was a hot button topic for a while. Shortly thereafter, Kaepernick chose to become a free agent and was not offered a contract. In fact, he hasn’t played professional football since. In 2018, Nike signed him to an advertising contract around or shortly after he sued the NFL for collusion to stop him from playing.
The whole situation with him made me mad, maybe more so than I should have been. I stopped watching professional football and to this day, I haven’t watched a whole game on TV. When he signed with Nike, I was determined never to buy another Nike product. I didn’t organize a mass protest or even publicize my determination much. I just resolved to not let Nike profit from what I considered was a stupid marketing decision.
In my mind, Colin Kaepernick was hired to do a job (quarterback) and protesting while he was at work was wrong (I’d certainly have expected my employer to fire me if I protested something while I should have been working). I also saw hypocrisy of a man who was being paid multiple millions per year complaining about racial inequality. I certainly didn’t make multiple millions per year.
So, for the last 6 years or so, I’ve abstained from buying any Nike product. I’ve bought tennis shoes and socks and underwear and sporting goods over that time but none of them had the Nike swoosh on them.
However, due to the funeral, I had to buy a Chiefs shirt. I went to a sporting goods retailer, and they had quite a selection of jerseys and a few T-shirts. I selected one and overpaid for it. When I got home, I realized it had a Nike swoosh on it.
So, I broke my promise to myself. I’m counting it as a momentary lapse in my determination because I wanted to honor my friend in the manner he preferred.
“My eyes are awake before the watches of the night, that I may meditate on your promise. Hear my voice according to your steadfast love; O Lord, according to your justice give me life. They draw near who persecute me with evil purpose; they are far from your law.” - Psalm 119:148-150 ESV
“And he said to them, “Which of you who has a friend will go to him at midnight and say to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves, for a friend of mine has arrived on a journey, and I have nothing to set before him’; and he will answer from within, ‘Do not bother me; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed. I cannot get up and give you anything’? I tell you, though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his impudence he will rise and give him whatever he needs. And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent; or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”” - Luke 11:5-13
By the way, it seems like most people fall into one of three camps regarding Colin Kaepernick. The first camp are those, like me, that were deeply offended by his protesting. The second camp are those that really didn’t care if he was protesting. It was just a break before the game. The third camp believes that he should be allowed to protest using his public presence. Whichever camp you fall in, as long as you are firmly convicted of your belief, I support you.
