![\"\"](\"https:\/\/wp-media.patheos.com\/blogs\/sites\/85\/2011\/10\/1318695246_mel-gibson-robert-downey-b.jpeg\" "\\"1318695246_mel-gibson-robert-downey--b\\"")
<\/a>This past Friday, in the spirit of Christ\u2019s forgiveness of the adulteress<\/a> when she was presented to him by the holier than thou, a remarkably similar story has come to my attention from an area that I usually steer clear of: the shoals of Hollywood. And yet this is where a stunningly familiar event took place.<\/p>\n This news is all over the wires from Celebrity Gossip GHQ centered in LaLa Land. US Magazine<\/a>, The Hollywood Reporter<\/a>, The Huffington Post<\/a>, etc., etc., have all run versions of this story. Even Forbes(!)<\/a> is reporting on it. You probably heard this already because, yes, I\u2019m always the last one to know. The setting? The 25th Annual American Cinematheque Award.<\/em> What\u2019s that? It\u2019s a token given to, \u201can extraordinary artist in the entertainment industry who is fully engaged in his or her work and is committed to making a significant contribution to the art of the motion pictures.\u201d Why should you care? Entertainment Weekly\u2019s<\/em>, Grady Smith has the scoop,<\/p>\n Last night at the 25th Annual American Cinematheque Award Ceremony, which was honoring Robert Downey Jr., the Iron Man actor asked Hollywood to forgive Mel Gibson.<\/p>\n Gibson was invited onstage to present Downey Jr. with the prestigious award, since, in the words of Garry Shandling, \u201cThe Cinematheque was concerned a bit about Robert\u2019s checkered past, so they chose someone to present the award who could help balance that out and the choice was so obvious, Mel Gibson.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n I know what you\u2019re thinking. What a load of hooey. Balance?! As if Mel Gibson has a leg to stand on in this department. Don\u2019t you know that his fall from grace since The Passion of the Christ<\/em> has been nothing short of catastrophic, Frank? Yes, I know. Which is what makes this a Paul Harvey-esque \u201cThe Rest of the Story\u201d vignette. Let\u2019s get back to it,<\/p>\n Gibson spoke kindly of the star, who he famously helped to make a comeback by paying Downey Jr.\u2019s insurance bond so he could star in 2003\u2032s The Singing Detective. \u201cYou are my friend,\u201d Gibson said. \u201cWhen I saw you all those years ago and got all those warnings, I just thought, \u2018There\u2019s nothing so much wrong with him.\u2019\u201d Gibson explained, \u201cYou\u2019re a good dude with a good heart.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n I wonder where Mel learned Christian charity like this? I can think of a parable<\/a>, or two<\/a>. Take a deep breath folks, and remember the admonition, \u201charden not your hearts.\u201d<\/a><\/p>\n During Downey Jr.\u2019s acceptance speech, he had even kinder words for Gibson. \u201cI asked Mel to present this award for me for a reason,\u201d he said. \u201cWhen I couldn\u2019t get sober, he told me not to give up hope and encouraged me to find my faith. It didn\u2019t have to be his or anyone else\u2019s as long as it was rooted in forgiveness<\/em>. And I couldn\u2019t get hired, so he cast me in the lead of a movie that was actually developed for him. He kept a roof over my head and food on the table and most importantly he said if I accepted responsibility for my wrongdoing<\/em> and embraced that part of my soul that was ugly<\/em> \u2013 hugging the cactus he calls it \u2014 he said that if I hugged the cactus long enough, I\u2019d become a man.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n I\u2019m thinking that by this time, the crowd is stunned in hushed silence as they witnessed this rare, and grace filled, moment. Sort of like \u201cshock and awe,\u201d but in a good way. A Holy Spirit filled way; a way that desires us to soften our hearts and to treat others the way we want to be treated.<\/a> As the hushed crowd looked on in amazement,<\/p>\n He continued, \u201cI did and it worked. All he asked in return was that someday I help the next guy in some small way. It\u2019s reasonable to assume, at the time, he didn\u2019t imagine the next guy would be him or that someday was tonight. So anyway on this special occasion and in light of the recent holidays including Columbus Day<\/a>, I would ask that you join me, unless you are completely without sin<\/em> in which case you picked the wrong f\u2014ing industry, in forgiving my friend his trespasses and offering him the same clean slate you gave me, allowing him to continue his great and ongoing contribution to our collective art without shame. He\u2019s hugged the cactus long enough.\u201d<\/p>\n The crowd in the room applauded vigorously, as Gibson appeared to tear up a bit.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n As Our Lord said, \u201cGo and learn the meaning of the words, \u2018I desire mercy, not sacrifice.\u2019 I did not come to call the righteous but sinners\u201d (Matthew 9:13). I wonder how many heard \u201cthe call\u201d that night because of the unexpected speech of one sinner on behalf of another? If even one soul is prompted to seek redemption, not just from mankind, but from the Creator, then this little footnote in forgettable celebrity history would be nothing short of miraculous.<\/p>\n That\u2019s how I see it, anyway.<\/p>\n Update: <\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n