So I like American football,
love it actually. It has been hard
keeping up with it while living in Asia these past 3 years. I love when God gives me analogies based off
this sport and I was excited when the first lesson God gave to me on humility
was a football analogy!!! So here we go,
my first lesson in humility. Down, Set, Hut!
HUMILITY IN A SECOND-STRING PLAYER
I love Aaron Rodgers,
especially the way he handled all the “Brett Favre Drama” as he transitioned to
the Green Bay Packers Quarter back in 2008.
In my opinion he is one of the few humble athletes left in this
world. That being said I’m going to use
him in 2 sports analogies (the other one will be for another blog).
On November 9, 2007 Brett
Favre was injured with a banged up right elbow and separated left shoulder while
playing against the Dallas, Cowboys in Irving, Texas. Favre is tough, he loves the game and he loves to play, even through injuries, so being his back up means having very little play time. I remember being devastated when Brett was taken out. I had no idea who this Aaron Rodgers was! Brett was the man and in my opinion and the opinion of those other Packer fans I was watching the game with that Thursday night at the Orlando Ale House on Kirkman Road, no one could be as good as Brett Favre!!!! On top of that this was a HUGE game with playoff circumstances at stake!
After 3 years of watching and studying Favre from the sidelines, with very little play action, Rodgers finally got his
time to shine; and he didn’t disappoint either, throwing his first TD pass
shortly after being brought in the game.
Unfortunately, the Packers lost this game by 10 points but Rodgers
played well, impressing the Packer coaches and fans with his skills and
talent! Even though we lost the game we were all encouraged by how great our back-up QB played that night! It gave us hope for the rest of the season, whether Favre came back or not.
That game was the beginning
of the “Brett Favre drama.” Coaches and
fans eyes were opened and they began to see the potential of a new QB. Talks and plans began forming about the
possibility of replacing the Packers beloved Favre; who was getting up
there in age and had been speaking about retiring for many years before this
game.
I came across an interview
a few years back after Rodgers first Superbowl victory. He was asked about the 3 years he spent as a
back-up QB for Favre. Rodgers didn’t
spend 3 years sitting on the sideline, waiting to be traded. He took advantage of the opportunity to learn
from someone like Favre. He spent those
3 years studying Favre because he knows Favre is AMAZING and his knowledge
of the game is well rounded.
He knew that one day he
would have the opportunity to play and when that time came he wanted to play
well, just like Brett. He didn’t want to
disappoint the team so he spent the three years studying and watching hard. Now, 8 years later, Aaron Rodgers has received
multiple MVP awards and is being considered as one of footballs greatest
QB’s. Most importantly, he is also
keeping the Packer’s legacy alive!!! J (SIDE
NOTE: I’m sure other second-string QB’s have done the same, I’m just singling
out Rodgers because I love the Packers and think he is awesome!!!)
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| PHOTO CREDITS USA Today "The Best and Worst Parts of Brett Favre" |
HUMILITY IN THE SHADOWS
ON THE FIELD
But that isn’t all. Here is where Rodgers humility really showed!
After 3 years of sitting on the sidelines he finally got his opportunity to
move from back-up to starting QB!!! But
for the next several years until the Superbowl XLV win, he still had to live under
Favre’s shadow as all the “Brett Favre Drama” played out. Sports commentators around the world tried
turning two talented grown men’s unfortunate circumstance into a High School girls teen drama!!
Rodgers was being compared
constantly to Favre but Rodgers kept his cool, did his job, and remained kind. He didn’t defend himself with his words, he
let his playing do the talking. When he
did speak he remained kind, speaking highly of Favre and his skills. Even the few extremely AWKWARD games that
were played together after Favre transferred to the Vikings, Rodgers kept his
cool and remained kind. Even after he
heard reports of the horrible things Favre said about him and his playing,
Rodgers kept his cool and remained kind.
I’m sure it bothered the mess out of him but he kept his cool and
remained kind anyways.
Rodgers could have been the
crappiest QB to ever play football but I would have respected him and always
remembered him just the same because of the way he handled himself during those
continuous years of drama. He had every
right to blow up on Favre, ESPN, NFL Network, Sports commentators around the
US, and Joe Buck (don’t get me started on this dude), but he chose the high
road! I admire him tremendously for the
way he handled himself during those 3 years!
LESSON SUMMARY
Humility is being OK with
being a second string player and doing it well.
It’s being a team player who keeps their attitude in check and isn’t
bitter about their position; even though they have the skills to do more. It’s someone who studies hard for the sake of the
team, knowing the plays inside and out so when their time to play comes they
are ready and will play well. Are you a
second-string/support player and if so what are you doing with your position?
Humility is standing your
ground when it seems like the whole world is crashing in on you, you feel
mistreated, and underestimated. It’s
doing your job and doing it well regardless of what’s going on around you. It’s choosing to move on and look past the
comments and beliefs others have about you and asking God what He thinks about you.
It’s choosing the high road in the midst of controversy and waiting
patiently for that controversy to go away (because one day it will).
It’s being kind regardless. Most
importantly, it’s trusting in God’s will for your life and walking hand-in-hand
with Him to a brighter future!! Who
knows, maybe there will be a Superbowl ring and trip to Disney in your future!? ;) One day the mess will pay off!!
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| PHOTO CREDITS CBS.COM "Superbowl XLV" |
SIDE NOTE
As most of you who follow
me know my word for 2016 is “humility.”
It sucks, just as I suspected it would when accepting this as my word
for the year. I’m such a prideful person
so I know I have a lot to learn through this word as God chips away that pride. I’m going to keep a record throughout 2016 of
the lessons I learn in humility so you, my friends, can hold me accountable and
so I have an electronic record to reflect back on in the future.
I want to be real with you
and let you know I haven’t mastered these things I’m learning. They are a work in progress and I mess up
constantly even though I know them. They are things that God is teaching me through
my quiet times and journaling as I work to understand humility this year. I appreciate your prayers as I continue this
journey! It’s tough, I’m struggling, but
I will overcome.
“for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the
world, even our faith.” ~1 John 5:4
“He
gives us victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” ~1 Corinthians 15:57
