Shame on you!

There are days when I sit down at my desk and have no idea as to what I want to write about.I open my template,change the date in 3 different places,add my Minute with Maxwell word of the day,my Darren Daily mentoring and my quote of the day. Then I stare at the monitor clueless.Sometimes I start typing and then delete what I have written over and over and over again. Other times I start typing and stuff just comes up out of seemingly nowhere.Being perfectly honest ,I would say that most days I am winging it when I start writing.After all ,these are my thoughts and feelings,not newspaper articles or scripts to lead my life by.
Sometimes a single event, nothing big or out of the ordinary, is enough to send me off on my daily tangent.
Today is one of those days. After a quick trip to the barber (yeah.....my wife is not going to be thrilled with the new look!.....we call it the Kojak!),I sat down to check my emails before heading to the gym for week 2 of my new training regimen. It's called the "why the hell am I doing this " training method.When I have a chance , I will share more about this. Today however I want to address an email that I received from a friend. His note simply read "I thought you might like this"....as he forwarded an article written by the CEO of the Jewish Federation of Northern New Jersey. The author,a self described life long Yankee fan,wrote about Arod's retirement and how the Yankees like any successful organization realized that there comes a time for change. Not just improvement by changing a piece or 2 ,but a complete overhaul of the way we conduct our daily affairs.He pointed out how companies such as Xerox,Kodak,Blockbuster and Polaroid are all examples of how not responding to the need for change can bring about disastrous results.He brought up Apple and how their vision to change has made them the giant they are today. He pointed out how Macy's announced just yesterday, major changes in how they will move forward in an attempt to keep pace with the world around us.
All good and valid examples. What he missed in his article was change on an individual basis. He missed the human element. In fact,he went out of his way to let us know just how little he thought of Alex Rodriguez, undoubtedly flawed, however still one of the greatest to have ever played the game of baseball. 
The autor's name fittingly is James Shames,and shame on him for not stepping back and acknowledging any of the changes, no matter how late in his career,Mr. Rodriguez has made. We all have the opportunity to change until we take our absolute final breath. 
Where is this man's compassion? 
Where is the forgiveness?
 Where is the grace ? 
What about the concept of T'shuva?(Redemption)
We are heading into the High Holidays,the major theme of which is T'shuva and this author, who heads one of the most prominent Jewish organizations in the country, missed the boat completely. I for one was very disappointed.
This is the kind of thinking that keeps me away from the organized part of my religious connection.
We all have the capacity to change and to forgive.For me,that is unconditional. 
It has to apply to each and evry one of us, not just the shining examples such as Apple  or Disney or Zappos.
It's about people!
My anger wants me to say shame on you Mr. Shames, however,I know you have the capacity to change and become the better man and leader that you can be as well.
And thank you for reminding me just how important all of this is to me!
Shabbat Shalom