It's been a rough week, friends. I've never been involved in a lawsuit before. That's not by accident. I live my life in such a way that I should never have to sue anyone nor should anyone be able to sue me. Yet, here I am. In the course of my work, I am forced to sue a pair of prominent Texas entertainers.

Some people know me and have been very supportive because they believe that I act in the best interest of Waco and my business. But many other people have been very ugly. I suppose they think that people in entertainment and people who make them laugh are by definition good people. That must make me wrong, right? Only I'm not. I really won't bore you with all the details, and I'm not particularly concerned with whether or not you believe me. I know most of you who read this and I'm pretty sure you do believe me. But that's beside the point. Or, rather, that is the point. I guess my point is that you can't really know whether or not I'm right. Neither can any of the people who are saying such ugly things about me right now.

So why are they saying them? That's what really bothers me. Why are people who don't know me in any way saying things like I don't know anything about business, I'm ruining the Hippodrome, I don't know what I'm doing, I'm taking money from people, I'm screwing ticket-holders, and I'm associating with corrupt people. Of course none of that is true, but even if it were, they can't possibly know that. What leads people to say things like that?

See, years ago I decided never to talk about people in an abstract way to make a point about something else. In particular, I decided that in the context of preaching. Most of you know that I recently finished a Master of Divinity degree. And I have vowed never to talk about people the way I've heard some preachers do in sermons. They'll talk about celebrities' immoral lives in a tabloid way to make a point about living morally. That's not only wrong, it's offensive and perverse to me. People aren't object lessons. Not even famous people. Not even famous people that we think we know something about. They're people. That's not what people are for.

I think I'm learning something here too. I'm not sure I can articulate it yet. But I do know that the anonymity of the internet has primarily made people meaner and stupider than I would ever have believed possible. I hear a lot of discussion about the way online connectivity creates communities, but I'm skeptical. I don't think that you can know someone - really know them - without an in-person experience with them. Without having a cup of coffee with them. Without playing a game with them. Without shaking their hand or touching their shoulder. And I've realized that I haven't quite lived up to that realization. I talk about celebrities, authors, athletes, politicians, and such as if I actually know them. I comment on their decisions and criticize their work. And I don't think it's right. I don't think I can talk about Jerry Jones based on what he does with the Dallas Cowboys. At least not as a person. I can't say that he's an idiot or a genius. I don't think I can talk about President Obama that way either. I don't think I can label him or call him prudent or foolish. Perhaps I would do things differently than those men. Perhaps I'll have an opinion about their decisions, but I don't think I can talk about their persons anymore.

I'm not comparing myself to President Obama. I'm just saying that I've learned a few lessons here. I've also learned that I can't say anything that I won't sign my name to. Even if my intentions are good or my comments are constructive, it wouldn't be worthy of my integrity to leave a comment online with anything less than my name. Heck, I've been guilty of doing the opposite many times and recently. But no more. Under any circumstances. I can't do it for any reason, because to do so is really no different than what the trolls do, even if I'm saying constructive or positive things.

I don't think I'm done learning from this. And I'm not fishing for compliments or for anyone to stroke my ego. I'm a big enough boy that if that was what I wanted or needed, I'd ask for it. But I have no problem admitting that I'm hurt by all this. I'm truly doing my best and my utmost. And from now on, I think I'll make more active choices to believe that others are doing the same and refuse to speak about people whom I don't know.

I think I understand what it means to give someone the benefit of the doubt. I understand it because I've identified what that doubt is. I doubt that I know enough to have an opinion that could hurt someone's feelings or damage their self-worth. Therefore, I'll let them benefit from my doubt by refusing to speak into my potential ignorance. I'll forever doubt my certainty about others, and ensure that they benefit from not only my refusal to criticize, but my tacit respect.