Sermon Illustrations
Booing Cardboard Cutout of Baseball Star
Robinson Cano is an all-star second baseman who left the New York Yankees at the end of the 2013 season to take a 10 year, 240 million dollar contract with the Seattle Mariners. When Cano returned to New York for the first time as a Mariner in April of 2014, everyone knew that he would get booed by Yankee fans for leaving.
Before the game, he made an appearance on "The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon." They took a cardboard cutout of Cano to the streets of New York and encouraged Yankee fans to practice booing Cano in front of the cutout. What these fans didn't realize is that the real Cano was standing behind the cardboard cutout, waiting to surprise the unsuspecting fans.
The reactions of the fans on the street were telling. While they think they are booing a cardboard cutout, they are merciless. They boo and shake their fists, telling Cano he is not welcome, and that he should go back home to Seattle. But then Cano comes out from behind the cutout and in mid-sentence they completely change their demeanor. They begin smiling, they run to shake his hand, and even give him a hug. One man goes from saying, "Boo! You suck!" to "Hey, welcome back to New York!" all in one breath.
How often are we willing to speak poorly of someone behind their back or when there are seemingly no repercussions, but then act much differently when we are with someone face to face?