Tony Stewart the Killer???

“Character is like a tree and reputation like a shadow. The shadow is what we think of it; the tree is the real thing.” Abraham Lincoln

  The NASCAR world has been abuzz all week about Tony Stewart. In case you missed it, on Saturday, August 9^th, during a small non-NASCAR sprint car race in Canandaigua (N.Y.), as he came out of Turn 2, Tony Stewart’s car squeezed Kevin Ward’s car up into the outside wall, turning it around. Ward’s car ended up with a flat tire as a result. Kevin Ward then exited his car, incensed with Stewart's move. He marched down the middle of the racetrack, gesturing angrily at Tony Stewart as he approaches on the ensuing caution lap. Stewart clipped Ward, throwing him down the track. Ward was rushed to a local hospital but was pronounced dead on arrival.

  If you’ve watched the video, it’s horrifying. Some believe that Tony Stewart purposely struck Kevin Ward. I don’t think so. Ward goes right out into the center of the track, going at Stewart’s car in a man against machine confrontation. Then, Stewart struck and killed him. Only Tony Stewart really knows what happened in that split second.

  But the main reason there’s even a question on whether it was intentional or accidental is because of Tony Stewart’s reputation for being a hothead. He’s the poster child for “Road Rage.” For more than a decade, he’s plowed down pit crew members, threatened to run fellow competitors off the track, shoved drivers in anger and even threw his helmet at a car.

  Back in August of 2012, a raging Tony Stewart threw his helmet at Matt Kenseth’s car during the Bristol, TN race. The helmet hit the vehicle square on the hood as it sped past. Afterwards, Stewart said he’d “run over' Kenseth “every chance [he] got.” In March of 2013, he accused driver Joey Logano of blocking his car in a race in Fontana, California. When it was over, Stewart stormed towards Logano, shoved him and threatened to run him over. The two drivers were eventually separated by their crews, but Stewart remained fuming. During his rookie year Stewart tried to climb in Kenny Irwin's window to get to him after an incident in Martinsville. Other incidents include post race run-ins with Jeff Gordon, a shoving incident in Daytona with Robby Gordon, and multiple incidents with reporters. It’s a long list of blowups. Just recently, he was fined and put on probation by both NASCAR and Home Depot for an incident with a photographer after the Brickyard 400. He was investigated by the Sullivan County, TN sheriff's department for allegedly shoving a woman after the race in Bristol, and a safety worker from New Hampshire accused Stewart of punching him after Stewart wrecked at the July race.

  He’s a hothead. Seemingly, he doesn’t have a control mechanism to turn off his raging temper. His outbursts are nearly always physical. If he were only yelling at other drivers, reporters, fans and safety workers that would make for a good story, but it wouldn't be worthy of fines and suspensions. But he’s known for punching, shoving and even hitting with his car.  

  While I don’t believe Stewart purposefully struck Kevin Ward, Stewart’s reputation of being a hothead is so well known, that even if he’s innocent, in the eyes of many racing fans, he’ll be judged guilty. Over the rest of his career there will always be a shadow of doubt about what really happened.

  Reputation? If someone has a reputation for flying off the handle, others start giving them a wide berth, so they won’t be trapped in a meltdown. Yet, when they do have a case of being legitimately angry, they’re often tuned out. They’ve gone ballistic too many times before.

  When someone has a reputation for lying, when they do finally tell the truth, there’s skepticism. If someone is a chronic complainer, others begin to blow them off. Yet, when they have a legitimate complaint, there’s a high potential they’ll be ignored.

  Sadly, a young person can get a reputation as a troublemaker. Because their reputation proceeds them, even when they’re innocent, they’re often judged guilty. If something happens, he or she is often the first suspect and has to prove their innocence.

  Wonderfully, reputation has a positive side as well. If you have a reputation for being a hard worker, for being diligent, for giving 100%...it can protect you. When management is looking to make cuts or if there’s an issue of poor quality work in a department, the diligent worker’s reputation will often help them keep their job and protect them from accusations.

  If you have a reputation for consistently being punctual, when you’re late because of some unforeseen delay, those who know you are surprised. A college professor with a good reputation for quality material and being fair, will have students lining up to take his class.

  Proverbs 22:1 says, “A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, and favor is better than silver or gold.” Everyone of us has a reputation – good or bad. A good one can’t be bought. It must be earned.

  It’s virtually impossible to be an effective Christian or have a witness for Jesus, if your reputation has been soiled by sinful or obnoxious behavior. A good reputation though wins us a hearing.

  Our reputation is not how we see ourselves. It’s not even how our friends view us. It’s how those who aren’t immediately connected to us see us.  

  Many of us would do well to discover our reputation with mature and credible individuals who aren’t in our close circles. It might challenge us to make upward strides spiritually, as we learn that there are chinks in our armor that need some spiritual attention, intervention and growth.

  A good reputation is easy to lose and hard to earn. Yet, if we’re going to be effective for the Lord, a good reputation isn’t optional.

  Hypocrisy is probably the worst accusation a Christian can face. While a good reputation doesn’t come from perfectionism (we’re all sinners), it is a result though, to quote Eugene Peterson, “of a long obedience in the same direction.” How’s your reputation? What kind of person are you known to be?