Daily Prayer, 2 May

We often aren’t aware of the reputations that we are building until it’s too late. The only way I know of to control one’s own reputation is to set standards of behavior for oneself. Select the kind of person you want to be, and then measure all of your decisions—big and small—by whether or not your choice makes you more like the person that you want to be. Today’s story presents something of a negative example of this, but sometimes it’s good to know how you would not do things. Ultimately, we strive to be like Christ, though sometimes it is easier to use an example closer to home for guidance. I have a handful of men I hope to be like when I grow up. I recommend the same for you.

Dale Hunter may not really be a bad guy, but he sure played one on the ice. He was nicknamed “the Nuisance” during his 19-year NHL career, most of which he spent with the Washington Capitals who retired his jersey number 32 after he retired. The distinction for which he earned such an honor was that he set what many consider to be an unbreakable record: He is the only player ever to have accumulated in his career more than 1000 points AND more than 3000 penalty minutes. In fact, during the ceremony retiring his jersey, the Capitols also presented him— as a gift—one of the penalty boxes from the Capital Centre, the team’s prior home.

On April 28, 1993, Hunter served the most memorable of his 3565 career penalty minutes. In the first round of the playoffs, Hunter was chasing down Pierre Turgeon of the New York Islanders, but couldn’t stop him from scoring the series-clinching goal. As Turgeon began to celebrate, Hunter checked him from behind so hard that he dislocated Turgeon’s shoulder. The injury knocked Turgeon out of nearly all of the Islanders remaining playoff games. By any measure, it was a cheap, nasty shot for which Hunter was not only penalized, but suspended for 21 games to start the next season. At the time it was the longest suspension for an on-ice incident in NHL history.

Had it only been that one incident, perhaps Dale Hunter might be remembered as something other than “The Nuisance.” But reputations are established by more than just one or two incidents. Everyone makes mistakes. Reputations, whether good or bad, are built over time and demonstrated by consistent behavior. So be careful what kind of reputation you are building and make sure it’s the one that you want. Reputations are much more difficult to change than to establish.

LET US PRAY

Lord, help us to be mindful of the impression that we give to others and help us to conscientiously craft a reputation that we can be proud of. Help us to stick with it when we are frustrated and want to quit, and teach us humility when we do get it right. Help us to keep our goals in front of us and our failures behind us, for You promised to guide us into all truth and it is in Your name we pray.

AMEN