98.5 KTIS

I had an interesting experience at Wal-Mart

Last week, the 70 something cashier handed me $12.37 in change. But she mistakenly grabbed a $50 bill, instead of a $10.

It doesn’t take a lot of thinking to realize what the ethical response would be, right? I handed back the $50, and she was quite relieved that I caught (and pointed out) her mistake. That’s just what’s expected. It may not happen all the time, but we all know what the correct response really is.

For some reason, however, it’s a little different in the sports world. For many (most?) a big part of the game is the skill of being able to fool the officiating crew. Perhaps that’s hitting the floor and trying to draw the basketball foul. Or trying to blame the football off-sides on the jittery offensive line. It’s just a part of the game, right?

Maybe, as Christians, our ethics need to stretch beyond what’s socially acceptable, to a higher understanding of justice.

I was thrilled to read this article about the Northwestern College Volleyball Team in the Star Tribune.

They are willing to put the honesty of the game above the score. Their “Honor Calls” even earned them the 2009-10 NCAA Student-Athlete Sportsmanship Award, among female athletes.

(Did I mention that 98.5 KTIS is owned by Northwestern College? I’m glad to be a part of that family!)