By now, everyone has heard and seen that rampage in the court. It’s almost like a visual interpretation of nagdilim ng paningin. As I am no basketball fan whatever league it is, I am not sure what brought that on. Reports keep saying an investigation is underway and none has proffered a theory. But everybody has an opinion on what should happen to John Amores. I don’t have anything to add that has not been said already but what I do find interesting is a post showing him being given the Sportsmanship Award. From hero to zero in just four years, as netizens are saying.

But you know what? There had to be a good reason why he was given that award but no one cares anymore. It has now become laughable. I can already foresee how this year’s recipient might be the subject of ribbing. One captioned the award photo, “This did not age well.”

Amores’ misadventure is a cautionary tale for all of us. It shows that yesterday’s awards and recognitions are just for yesterday. They are not to be carried like a lifetime guarantee for good behavior. It’s the same with our walk with Christ.

Our walk with Christ is often described as daily because yesterday is over and done with, and tomorrow is not promised. Even this afternoon or tonight is not promised either. We are not exempt from the possibility of having our own hero-to-zero experience for as long as we have the sinful nature in us. Perhaps we might have to call it our moment-by-moment walk instead as we pray that by the grace of God, we will not only age well in our testimony but we will finish well.

But should we commit acts that will make our detractors and persecutors sneer, “Well, well, well…” remember that the Bible is replete with characters who did not “age well” but still finished well by the grace of God.

• If David were alive today, his dancing before the Lord would become a meme after siring a child from an adulterous affair and murdering his rival. 
• Moses losing his temper before striking the rock for water would be viral. 
• I can imagine Abraham’s nose being photoshopped a la Pinocchio when he half-lied about Sarah being his sister to save his cowardly behind.  
• Peter would have been bashed as a hypocrite for succumbing to peer pressure from the Jews. This, after that incident where he claimed in all braggadocio how he will never abandon Jesus, but hours later, denies Him thrice for all to hear his “@#$%.”

I do not know Amores nor do I know anybody with a six-degree of separation from him, but I hope a believer who does know him will reach out and let him know that he can find amor in the Lord, and pick up the pieces from his 1-2-3-4 punches.