didn’t get tickets for JoePa’s memorial?

Neither did ‘most everybody I know.  The pastors of Calvary were in a meeting at 10am yesterday when the free tickets went online.  3 of us had our laptops out, while a 4th had his wife working on it at home.  None of us were able to get tickets, and the 10,000 seats were gone in a matter of minutes.

Not to worry; we have a plan.

Calvary will be showing the Joe Paterno memorial service tomorrow afternoon on the big screen at 1250 University Drive.  If you didn’t get tickets either, please feel free to join us.

A friend of mine asked me where I thought the line is between honoring someone’s lifework/legacy and elevating them to ICON status.  Are we in danger of crossing that line with the way we’re treating Joe Paterno?

I’m sure that some people have crossed that line.  Paterno’s statue has been turned into a shrine of sorts, with people leaving flowers, cards, and other memorabilia around the statue.  There are some who have/will worship his legacy, his memory.

But there’s nothing wrong with celebrating a life well-lived, a life spent investing in others, a radical generosity that makes a community better.  That’s what Joe Paterno leaves for us, and although I never met him, I am fairly certain that the last thing he’d want is for us to worship him.

If anyone knows how Joe would react to all the attention being focused on him, you’ve got to figure that it’s Tom Bradley, right?  Bradley told SportsGulp, “I know he’s up in heaven looking down saying, ‘Why are they making this fuss?  Don’t they have better things to do?’”

So tomorrow you’re invited to come celebrate the memory of a man who shaped our community, who inspired young men to become great men, who gave so much back to the University that he loved.  Joe Paterno was not perfect; by his own admission he made mistakes and had regrets. But there is no denying that he loved this community and spent himself trying to make Happy Valley a better place.  And that’s what we’ll celebrate.

here’s the video of Stefen Wisniewski’s speech at the candlelight vigil held on the Old Main steps Sunday night.

He closes with these words: We love you, Joe. And it’s my prayer that that father God that you prayed to after each and every game would grant you rest and will let his eternal light shine upon you.

Good words, Stefen. Amen