What a month for Tim Thomas. I don't think an NHL goaltender has had a more tumultuous month since Roberto Luongo collapsed in the playoffs.
First. he declines a visit to the White House and a meet-and-greet with President Barack Obama - an annual reward for the team that wins the Stanley Cup - because he feels that the American government has become too powerful and is threatening the rights of its citizens. He posts this message to his Facebook account after telling the world that Facebook was the medium through which he was going to release that message. He then goes and plays in the All-Star Game, goes through a mini-goalie controversy because of the stellar play of his backup goalie, former Leaf prospect Tuukka Rask (*slams head into desk*); however, that's all resolved and everything seems to go back to normal.
Then, the government passed a law that could force religious institutions to start covering birth control meds in their coverage plans. The Catholic church in particular didn't like that, and Tim Thomas decided to post - on Facebook, through which he already had released a controversial message - that he stood with the church on this issue.
The media asked him about this today, and he decided to say nothing.
Wait, what?
All he's been doing is talking about stuff, and now he wants to clam up?
Apparently. He told reporters that he wasn't going to talk about this statement, saying that he would 'plead the Fifth' - by which I'm assuming that he's using his right to remain silent - and repeatedly refusing to answer questions, calling Facebook his 'personal life,' and saying it had nothing to do with his occupation.
I'm confused, Tim; really, I am. You're directing people to your Facebook page when you have something to say about government policies, but when you're asked about your extremely inflammatory opinions, you refuse to talk about it? Why?
"[Hockey] is my job. Facebook is my personal life, that's why. If you guys (the media) don't understand the difference between an individual and what they do as a job, or an athlete and his personal life, then I think there's a problem. I don't think that when you become an athlete you sign away your right to be an individual and to have your own views, and to be able to post them on Facebook if you like."
It's a legitimate answer. Tim Thomas is certainly free to have an opinion, he is free to post his opinions on Facebook, and he is free to talk about them - or not talk about them, as the case may be.
However, I don't think it's a good answer. Tim Thomas, whether he likes it or not, is a role model for many people - kids and older ones alike. People look up to him, he's a public figure, and he commands attention - more so now that he's a Stanley Cup champion and a playoff MVP. Yes, he's free to have opinions, but when your every move is in the public eye - especially now in the Twitter age - you should be able to defend your opinion, in whatever venue it's challenged in. I understand where he's coming from - he's in the dressing room, so he wants to talk about hockey - but when you say something that inflammatory, you should have a reason for it and you should be able to defend it. That's how you keep the respect you've earned as a role model.
This applies to every role model, whether a professional athlete, or a working-class father, or any life situation where you have someone who looks up to you. I'm an older brother to my two siblings, and while we bicker and argue a lot, we have a great deal of respect for each other. As we've gotten older, I've tried to be a good role model for both of them - I haven't been successful all the time, but I've tried. There are other areas of life where I try to be a good role model: when I'm with friends, when I'm playing with my five-year-old cousin, when I'm at church interacting with kids who are younger than me, and in the upcoming opportunity I've now received to speak at a youth retreat in Ancaster next week Saturday.
I'm definitely not as prominent of a role model as Tim Thomas. I'm the guy who wasn't even good enough to be a third-string goalie on Redeemer's soccer team, remember? However, the same rules apply to me. I never forfeited the right to have a personal life, but my personal life is under scrutiny every day. The last thing I want is for people who look up to me be led astray by things I do in my personal life that are not consistent with how I act in public. In that light, I need to be able to give a reason for everything I do. I need to be able to defend the things I believe in. I need to lead by example.
And all this brings me to I Peter 3:15. The NIV translates it this way: "Always be prepared to give the reason for the hope that you have." Being a good role model, as a Christian, involves being ready at all times to defend the reason for your faith. There's no two ways around this one.
Thankfully, we have a template to go by. The NLT version gives is this verse: "We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honour beside God's throne." Hebrews 12:2. Jesus Christ was the ultimate role model. He lived his whole life in the public eye. He defended his extremely inflammatory statements. He faced all sorts of criticism, slander, and he had more opportunities than anyone to say something or do something that was immoral or indefensible. But he didn't. He's the role model for all Christians: the role model of role models, if you will.
So if I have anything at all to say in this post, it's this: be like Jesus at all times. He's your role model, y'know.
