Livewrong?

Lance Armstrong.

To sports fans, this name causes various (often extreme) reactions and opinions.

He cheated! He doesn’t deserve to ever race again! Make him give back all of his Tour de France titles! He should apologize to fans everywhere! Where is his respect for the sport that made him famous!

All common refrains uttered about the forever labeled cheater Lance Armstrong.

But was his cheating really a bad thing?

Cheating would seem to be a very negative thing. His cheating harmed others through various means – whether it was the fans who felt betrayed, the other competitors who lost their chance to win, or to those who believed in Lance and what they thought he stood for. When thinking strictly about Lance cheating to win, the negatives are clear and profound.

But that isn’t the whole picture. We can’t simply focus on what his cheating achieved in cycling. We have to look at what his cheating achieved in every aspect and dynamic of his life.

The Lance Armstrong Foundation, and the collaborative Livestrong campaign, has raised over $470 million for cancer research. Look at that number again.

$470 million.

Now what does that have to do with Lance cheating? Well, everything. If Lance hadn’t cheated, he might not have won any Tour de France titles. And if he hadn’t won any of the titles, he would not be nearly as famous as he currently is. And if he wasn’t as famous as he is, his foundation may not have received the support and donations that it has so far (and that it will in the future). Armstrong’s foundation has no doubt helped millions and saved lives.

Lance’s cheating saved lives. I can say that statement with a straight face, mean it, and believe it.

So I ask again: was his cheating really a bad thing?

Let’s say that you found yourself in a situation where you had to perform some task or solve some puzzle in order to save someone’s life. If you figured out you could cheat without being caught, wouldn’t you cheat to ensure that you completed the task or puzzle in order to save a life? Can you honestly say you would refuse to cheat, knowing someone’s life is in your hands? I would cheat. And I imagine you would too.

This is essentially what happened with Lance. His cheating just happened to be on a magnified scale, and therefore seen as worse than my scenario above.

In chapter 27 of Genesis, Isaac’s youngest son Jacob took his brother Esau’s familial blessing. Jacob lied to Isaac about who he was, and received the blessing that was intended for Esau. When isolated to just this specific chapter and story, Jacob can be painted in a negative light, and his actions seen as harmful.

But this isn’t the whole story.

Because of this blessing that Jacob receives, God blesses Jacob and names him Israel.

Ever heard of it?

Is lying to your father and stealing something from your brother bad? Well, yes. Is cheating and doping to win some races bad? Again, yes. There is no denying that.

But can nothing truly good come from something truly bad?

Can the blessings of many come out of deceit?