The Will Smith Syndrome - America's Unwillingness to Exercise Grace

Good Son-Day!!

Happy Birthday

First, a happy December birthday shout out to my dear siblings, Carmen 3rd, Alex 7th, and Roma 9th!


Will Smith Syndrome - America’s Unwillingness to Exercise Grace


In this link, https://www.cnn.com/2022/11/29/opinions/will-smith-slap-oscars-scandal-filipovic/index.html , you will see a link to a CNN posting that shows Will Smith in an interview.  He is speaking about the “Slap”.  He explains his behavior in a manner that is accountable and apologetic.  No excuses. Very contrite. Very humble.


Americans already are saying, he is just trying to get back in our good graces; so, we will go see his movies again.  In fact, he has a movie that premiered 12/2/22 on Apple TV, “Emancipation”.  We are questioning the motives behind the apology.


Image consultants are telling him to stop apologizing because it will lose its impact.  They point to multiple celebrities who made public mistakes simply by doing nothing.  Case in point, Hulk Hogan, “Dog”, Mel Gibson, Nick Cannon, the “45th, Robert Downey Jr, My Pillow Guy, Winona Ryder, Martha Stewart, and Alex Rodriguez to name a few. America has a short memory.


The funny thing about the slap is we state abhor violence, yet when speaking with my nephew’s English girlfriend she pointed out how violence is a core part of our country’s make up.  She noted that gun violence very rate in England.  The criminals in England prefer knives even though access to guns is an option.


Most of entertainment have an violent aspect to it and there is usually a body count in our movies or TV shows.  Football, Mixed Martial Arts fighting, and boxing are violent and aggressive sports, which we love.


The “Slap” may end Will Smith’s acting career as an A-lister because we as a country are unwilling to accept his attempts to gain forgiveness through the form an apology.  Or in his case a host of apologies. 


When counseling a husband who has cheated on his wife, I advised he will have to apologize as often as necessary if he wants to regain a relationship with wife.  Apologizing multiple times is not a sin.


What is a sin is to stonewall the apology.  There may be reasons for not accepting an apology (e.g., apology not authentic, the hurt is too deep, the infraction will happen again, it’s a ploy, I do not like the person).  Totally get it. But here are a few passages on resentment and forgiveness


Ephesians 4:31

Get rid of all hard feelings, resentment, anger and rage. Forgive one another as quickly and thoroughly as God in Christ forgave you.


Colossians 3:13

Be gentle and forbearing with one another and, if one has a difference (a grievance or complaint) against another, readily pardoning each other; even as the Lord has [freely] forgiven you, so must you also [forgive].


Mark 11:25

And when you assume the posture of prayer, remember that it’s not all asking. If you have anything against someone, forgive—only then will your heavenly Father be inclined to also wipe your slate clean of sins.


Hebrews 12:15

15 Be sure that no one misses out on God’s grace. See to it that a bitterness doesn’t take root in you If it does, it will cause deep trouble, hurting your spiritual lives.



I cannot advise you on if an apology you receive is contrite, meaningful, timely, enough, or authentic.  I can tell you unforgiveness is poison to the soul.  Let go and let God mend you and deal with the person seeking forgiveness.  He’s good at it.  


During this advent season keep in mind mercy and forgiveness is a gift He gave us that keeps giving.  Remember no where in the Bible are there terms and conditions about an apology.  There are terms about forgiveness----do it, and consequences to un-forgiveness . . . You won't, He won't.



Song of Week

“Kingdom”, 2022, (feat. Naomi Raine & Chandler Moore) | Maverick City Music x Kirk Franklin.  Another Grammy nominee. Recorded in a Texas prison, like Johnny Cash did (Folsom Prison).



Kingdom lyrics


Lord let Your will be done on Earth (ooh-ooh)

As it is in Heaven (ooh-ooh)

Help us to love and see each other (ooh-ooh)

The way You love and see us, come on

My heart has always longed for something more

I searched the stars to knock on Heaven's door

Creation groans for God to be revealed

And every wound we carry will be healed

My eyes on the Son

Lord, Your will be done

Thine is the Kingdom (yep!)

The power, the glory (yep!)

Forever and ever (yep!)

He finished my story (yeah!)

We're singing freedom

Our testimony (say it y'all)

We'll be singing forever, amen (we'll be singing forever)

We'll be singing forever and ever, amen (Hallelujah)

Beautiful, each color that He made, yeah

Your love's the only remedy for hate

You'll return to set the prisoners free

Till then Your will on Earth be done in me

My eyes on the Son

Lord, Your will be done (hey, come on!)

Thine is the Kingdom

The power, the glory

Forever and ever (He finished our story)

He finished my story

We're singing freedom

Our testimony

We'll be singing forever, amen (that's right, say it again, go to the top y'all!)

Thine is the Kingdom (the power)

The power, the glory (it belongs to You God)

Forever and ever (it's a long time)

He finished my story (You completed it for me)

We're singing freedom (how many of You are free?)

Our testimony (my testimony is)

We'll be singing forever, amen (Hallelujah, we'll be singing)

We'll be singing forever and ever, amen (I wanna hear that again)

(We'll be singing forever)

We'll be singing forever, amen (forever and ever)

We'll be singing forever and ever, amen (yeah, yeah, yeah)

How many of you know that God created you to fly?

Listen, don't you know that, really, you're too big for this planet

You were created for something bigger

Something greater

And listen, you can not get distracted by your right now

That you forget your tomorrow

Chandler, Chandler, remind 'em Chandler!

Talk to 'em!

And if you ever wondered

What Heaven looks like

It's looking like me and you

And if you ever questioned

What Heaven sounds like

Just let it fill the room, can you help me say?

Say, if you ever wondered (if you ever wondered)

What Heaven looks like (what Heaven looks like)

It's looking like me and you (it's looking like me and you)

And I'm wearing blue

If you ever questioned (if you ever questioned)

What Heaven sounds (what Heaven sounds like)

Just let it fill the room (just let it fill the room)

Hey, one more time, say

If you ever wondered (if you ever wondered)

What Heaven looks like (what Heaven looks like)

It's looking like me and you (it's looking like me and you)

Hey-yeah

Woah, and if you ever questioned (if you ever questioned)

What Heaven sounds like (what Heaven sounds like)

Oh, just let it fill the room (just let it fill the room)

Oh, just let it fill the room (just let it fill the room)

Just let it fill the room (just let it fill the room)

Just let it fill the room (just let it fill the room)

I hear Heaven (just let it fill the room)

I hear the Kingdom (just let it fill the room)

I hear Heaven (just let it fill the room)

I hear the Kingdom (just let it fill the room)

Just let it fill the room (just let it fill the room)

He's coming, He's coming

Let me hear you say, say (He's coming, He's coming)

Can you feel Him on the way?

He's coming, He's coming (He's coming, He's coming)

Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done (He's coming, He's coming)

And He's here right now

He's coming, He's coming (He's coming, He's coming)

He's coming, He's coming (He's coming, He's coming)

He (He's coming, He's coming)

He (He's coming, He's coming)

He's coming, He's coming (He's coming, He's coming)

Oh, He's coming, He's coming (He's coming, He's coming)

Ride on, King Jesus (He's coming, He's coming)

Ride on, King Jesus (He's coming, He's coming)

Ride on, King Jesus (He's coming, He's coming)

Ride on, King Jesus (He's coming, He's coming)

All Hail to You, Jesus (He's coming, He's coming)

All Hail, Emmanuel (He's coming, He's coming)

All Hail the God with us (He's coming, He's coming)

He's coming, He's coming (He's coming, He's coming)

He's coming, He's coming (He's coming, He's coming)

He's coming, He's coming (He's coming, He's coming)

Kingdom is here

Kingdom is here

Kingdom is right now

All Hail, King Jesus

All Hail, King Jesus

He's coming, He's coming (all hail, King Jesus)

He's on the way (all Hail, King Jesus)

His Kingdom is coming, say

(All Hail, King Jesus) ride on, King Jesus

All Hail (all Hail, King Jesus)

All Hail (all Hail, King Jesus)

He's all around (all Hail, King Jesus)

He's God with us, all Hail King Jesus (all Hail King Jesus)

All Hail, Emmanuel, all Hail, King Jesus

Chandler, Chandler (yeah?) Chandler (yeah?)

Chandler, you mind if I take it to church real quick?

(Can we take it to church? Let's go)

Give me that unison, give me that unison

If you wanna know what Heaven looks like

Looking like me and you

If you wanna know what Heaven sounds like

Just let it fill the room

If you wanna know what Heaven looks like

Looking like me and you

If you wanna know what Heaven sounds like

Just let it fill the room (let's go, lets go)

If you wanna know what Heaven looks like

Looking like me and you

If you wanna know what Heaven sounds like

Just let it fill the room

If you wanna know what Heaven looks like

Looking like me and you

If you wanna know what Heaven sounds like

Just let it fill the room (let's go, let's go)

One of these mornings

And it won't be long

We're gonna see Him face to face

Sing it again, sing it again, sing it again

If you wanna know what Heaven looks like

Looking like, looking like me and you

If you wanna know what Heaven sounds like

Just let it, just let it fill the room

If you wanna know what Heaven looks like

Looking like, looking like me and you

If you wanna know what Heaven sounds like

Just let it, just let it fill the room

If you wanna know what Heaven looks like

Looking like, looking like me and you

If you wanna know what Heaven sounds like

Just let it, just let it fill the room (come on)

If you wanna know what Heaven looks like

Looking like, looking like me and you

If you wanna know what Heaven sounds like

Just let it, just let it fill the room


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