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Last Wednesday night, in Boston, MA, a company’s CEO and his HR (human resources) chief were caught on camera at a Coldplay concert. The camera was looking for amorous couples that would be projected on an enormous screen. What was meant to celebrate a random couple’s affection turned into a personal horror that has been pilloried repeatedly on social media. If you have not seen the picture of a man affectionately embracing a woman from behind, then count yourself blessed. 

Based on the immediate reaction from the couple, it was apparent that the two were “caught” in a relationship that they were ashamed of. It was the reaction of a kid when his mom catches him with his hand in the cookie jar. The woman covered her face and ran off camera, while the man dropped down, futilely attempting to hide behind people or objects. Their reaction betrayed the truth of what they were doing, causing the picture, the video, and the account of events to go viral. 

It was revealed that, indeed, the CEO was married and that the woman he was embracing at the concert was not his wife. But the “KissCam” that so aptly caught a cheating spouse could not catch the travesty, the trajedy, and the truth behind that one moment. 

Travesty:

Galatians 6:8 "For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life."

Chief Executive Officers, especially married ones, are not supposed to date their chief personnel officer/director. If you stop to think about the company that is left in the wake of this public shame, you will probably find employees who are angry because they were not promoted to be the HR chief. There will be a perception that all the people that either the HR director or the CEO promoted were insiders who may have had information on the affair. Sexual harassment in the workplace will become a topic of conversation, extra training, and unbridled speculation among disgruntled workers. The personnel fracturing of the company will take some time – corporate healing will always impact people’s livelihoods. 

The company’s name has already been drug through the mud of ridicule. The CEO may have already resigned, but he has left the company and its employees in a dubious place. 

Tragedy:

1 Samuel 16:7 “The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

I cannot help but see the personal tragedy that these two have created. If you stop to think about it, once again, you will see a wife whose husband was caught in an affair. Not only was he caught, but a reminder of her faithless husband is everywhere on the internet. 

Everywhere.

Can you imagine being in her place and seeing an embarrassing reminder of your heartbreak posted in all news and social media outlets? You are now public victim #1. Her healing cannot start until the stream of comedy ends. 

Then there are the mothers and fathers of both the CEO and the HR chief. Imagine all the friends and acquaintances whom they have told about their kids’ success – and now their children are a national laughingstock. 

While we laugh at the downfall of this CEO, God mourns the personal hurt he has created. What man sees as comedy gold, the Lord sees as real heartbreak. 

May we all learn to see this through God’s eyes. 

Truth:

Proverbs 15:3 “The eyes of the Lord are in every place, keeping watch on the evil and the good.”

In truth, God has revealed his design for the covenant of marriage and our relationship with him in what he has created. Man was made for relationship with one wife, within the covenant of marriage, for a lifetime. This is apparent, even to those outside the Christian faith (or any faith, or no faith at all: see Romans 1). Accordingly, all people in all walks of life knew, immediately, that what this man had done was morally wrong. 

God sees it all. He knows it all. It is all on display without any hint of secret. He sees our faithlessness when we should be faithful. Our cheating hearts are the subject of his divine punishment. 
Yet, amid our straying, God provided a way back home. While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8)

I encourage you, each time you see a meme, a satire, a spin-off, or news story about this event, let it humble you. Consider the lives broken by this couple’s whimsy. Consider the grief and sleepless nights they have caused. 

Then think about how, even while we were caught by God in our offense against him, he sent his Son to die for us. The guiltless given for the guilty. A loving sacrifice given in the heat of our rebellion and foolishness. 

And pray for the salvation of all those involved. Often times, we can only see God from rock bottom. There are some who are seeing the world from that perspective right now.