The city commissioner of Sanford, Florida issued an apology in 1997 for something that happened more than fifty years prior. In 1946, Jackie Robinson was playing for the minor league Montreal Royals. It would be a year before he was called to the majors. The Royals were scheduled to play an exhibition game with their parent team, the Brooklyn Dodgers, on a spring day in Central Florida.
It may seem completely ridiculous now, but because he was Black, Robinson wasn’t allowed to stay at Sanford hotels with the other players or even to dress with his team. He stayed with a Black family and put on his uniform before coming to the park. Branch Rickey, general manager of the Dodgers, was warned that Robinson wouldn’t be allowed to compete against white players on Sanford’s diamond. But he took the field and played two innings before the city’s police chief ordered his removal.
“It was a bad thing,” said city commissioner White Eckstein. “We shouldn’t have done it. We need to make it right with the Jackie Robinson family.” He and other city officials decided that the most appropriate way for the Florida city of 32,000 souls to express its remorse was to add Robinson’s name to Rollins College’s Walk of Fame. “We need to apologize for what happened,” said Eckstein. “As long as that stain is on our soul, it only hurts the city of Sanford.”
No, Sanford wasn’t the only place in Florida to snub Robinson. At least three other cities canceled games when they learned he was scheduled to play. Games were also canceled that spring in Syracuse, New York and Baltimore. The tide of racism had swollen for years and was ready to break into a full-fledged wave.
But do people really need to apologize for things that long ago? Yes they do. Whether it was a racist act half a century ago, a fight three years ago, a lie told last week, or ugly words at breakfast this morning, relationships are never in the right condition until the person who has done wrong admits it, apologizes, and does whatever possible to make amends. Pride can make a stain permanent.
Jesus said in Matthew 5:23-24, “Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.” In a similar way, Zaccheus was more than willing to make restitution for all those he had sinned against (Luke 19:8).
Try to do the right things this week and if you mess up, don’t be too proud to say, “I was wrong. I’m sorry.” If we confess our sins, God will be faithful to forgive us of our sins and cleanse us from unrighteousness (1 John 1:9).
The fact of God’s gracious forgiveness doesn’t give us the right to sin as we please (Rom. 6:1). God knows the difference between a heart who sins and is truly sorry and repentant and a heart that’s trying to “pull the wool” over His eyes. A sincere, heartfelt apology and a determination to cease committing sin works wonders, pleases our God in heaven, and removes the stain from our soul.