I have to admit I was surprised when I learned that the person arrested for damaging “Howard’s Rock” was supposedly a Clemson fan.

For those of you who are not sports fans, “Howard’s Rock” is an iconic rock that sets on a pedestal at the east end of Clemson’s Memorial Stadium. Players rub the rock as they run down the hill and make their entrance before each home game. It’s a big part of Clemson tradition. Part of the rock was broken off during the night on June 2.

Police arrest an 18 year old man for the vandalism. He has no official affiliation with Clemson, but does sport a Clemson bumper sticker on his truck and own other Clemson memorabilia. There had been a lot of speculation about who had “done it.” Was a fan of another school? That would not have surprised anyone. There are a lot of nuts in this world…right Alabama and Auburn fans?

But a Clemson fan? I don’t think anybody saw that coming!

His arrest got me thinking about all the times we sabotage those things are supposed to mean a lot to us. We sabotage our health with bad eating habits and lack of exercise. We sabotage our future by failing to manage our money wisely or by incurring too much credit card debt. We sabotage our marriage by ignoring our spouse or being selfish. We sabotage our relationship with Jesus by not having a quiet time or by playing around with something we have no business doing.

All of us want to live a long and healthy life. We want to retire comfortably. We want a happy marriage. We want to please God. So why do we sabotage the very things we say want most in life?

That is a bigger tragedy than a Clemson fan damaging something important to all Clemson fans.

Pastor Steve Hogg