The other day as I was watching ESPN, the news ticker at the bottom of the screen caught my attention. It read, and I'm paraphrasing, "Albert Haynesworth suspended for the final four games due to conduct detrimental to the team." A few minutes later the full story aired and the details left me bewildered, angry, and confused.
This guy was a two-time pro-bowler (which means he's really good) and was just signed for a seven-year deal with a guaranteed 40some million-dollar contract. He had the potential to be one of the best defensive tackles to ever play the game.
So what happened? How does a player that good, with that much money and talent, with that much going for him get to the place where he's a detriment to the team he's playing for?
In a few words, Albert lost his passion and heart for the game. Every player interviewed in response to his suspension agreed that it was the right decision. He refused to go on the field unless the plays were designed around him. And when he did play, it was obvious that he wasn't giving his all. In one particular game, the cameras caught him taking a rest after missing a tackle. One of his teammates said it best regarding where Albert was mentally, "Albert has a 'big me, little team' mentality. Opposite of the 'big team, little me' attitude needed for a team to be great."
As I was yelling at Albert from the comforts of my living room, giving him all that he deserved, hopefully setting him straight, I heard this question being pointed at me, "Are you so different from Albert?" Initially, I kind of looked over my shoulder like the question was for the guy behind me (What? There could have been a stranger in my living room, between my couch and the wall it was up against.) And then I started my case, my argument with God in how I wasn't like Albert. If I had all that money and all that talent (not to mention all that fat) I wouldn't let it go to waste. I wouldn't sit on the sideline with a grumpy face. I went on a little more and then His reply left me silent.
"You're only using a portion of what I've given you, and you only appreciate a portion of what I've done for you. A big part of you is on the sideline. And sometimes you refuse to do what I ask of you even though you have everything you need to do it. Sometimes you can't even hear the play I'm calling."
Matthew 7:5 First get rid of the log in your own eye; then you will see well enough to deal with the speck in your friend’s eye.
Like Albert, we start off strong for the things we love and commit to. But over time, our focus subtly drifts until we've forgotten what drew us to begin with. We begin to get lost in a world full of options, deception, temptations, and mediocrity. God's voice becomes more and more faint, and so do our convictions. We begin to blend in to look like those around us in our Christian circles and no one's calling us out on it. We're constantly picking apart others to keep the attention and focus off ourselves, because looking at our own issues is painful.
Is the Devil Playing You?
Subconsciously we play the "if" game. If I had this. If I were that person. If I had those looks. If I had that kind of money. And the devil keeps pulling the strings. We need to start playing a different game. It's called "What if". What if we loved God and were as passionate as we were when we first handed over the playbook of our lives? What if we stopped living like everyone else? What if we stopped living for ourselves?
Let's put this scenario on the field.
What if Albert reversed his big me, little team philosophy? What if Albert found his love and passion for the game again? It would change everything for him. The articles and headlines, the conversations, his teammates, the contracts and offers. They would all spin the other way.
What if the cameras were rolling on your life? What if the reporters and analysts were watching and writing about you, about how you follow Jesus? What would the watchers and readers see? What would the headlines and sports tickers read?
May we not use excuses and justifications to keep us from playing our hearts out. May we stop playing the "grace card" as a reason to live the way we want instead of the life Jesus really called us to live. With all the grace and mercy given to us, how could we live any other way? With all the talents God has packed into us. With the humongous contract that He's given us. With the amazing call, plans and purposes He has for us, how could we not live a life that screams "Thank You" - a life that points to him and His greatness?
"For he called you into his Kingdom to share his glory." 1 Thessalonians 2:12
We can't forget that we're on borrowed time, living in a borrowed shell on a borrowed land, and we were destined to die with no hope for anything more, but then... May we share the "but then..." with others. May we remember the "but then..." for ourselves and grasp the enormity of it more and more. And may we remember that God has a playbook designed just for you with your name on the cover. We're called to open it and live it out and point people to him along the way.
That is our mission, now let's hit the field!
(Side Note: I started this blog about Albert Haynesworth back in January where it has sat for the past few months. Just recently Albert was traded to the New England Patriots where he'll be given a fresh start with a new team. We'll have to see what the writers, fans, and analysts report in the months to come. It should be an interesting story. I'm pulling for you, Albert. I hope you contemplate the "what if" and find something else in the process.)
So what happened? How does a player that good, with that much money and talent, with that much going for him get to the place where he's a detriment to the team he's playing for?
In a few words, Albert lost his passion and heart for the game. Every player interviewed in response to his suspension agreed that it was the right decision. He refused to go on the field unless the plays were designed around him. And when he did play, it was obvious that he wasn't giving his all. In one particular game, the cameras caught him taking a rest after missing a tackle. One of his teammates said it best regarding where Albert was mentally, "Albert has a 'big me, little team' mentality. Opposite of the 'big team, little me' attitude needed for a team to be great."
As I was yelling at Albert from the comforts of my living room, giving him all that he deserved, hopefully setting him straight, I heard this question being pointed at me, "Are you so different from Albert?" Initially, I kind of looked over my shoulder like the question was for the guy behind me (What? There could have been a stranger in my living room, between my couch and the wall it was up against.) And then I started my case, my argument with God in how I wasn't like Albert. If I had all that money and all that talent (not to mention all that fat) I wouldn't let it go to waste. I wouldn't sit on the sideline with a grumpy face. I went on a little more and then His reply left me silent.
"You're only using a portion of what I've given you, and you only appreciate a portion of what I've done for you. A big part of you is on the sideline. And sometimes you refuse to do what I ask of you even though you have everything you need to do it. Sometimes you can't even hear the play I'm calling."
Matthew 7:5 First get rid of the log in your own eye; then you will see well enough to deal with the speck in your friend’s eye.
Like Albert, we start off strong for the things we love and commit to. But over time, our focus subtly drifts until we've forgotten what drew us to begin with. We begin to get lost in a world full of options, deception, temptations, and mediocrity. God's voice becomes more and more faint, and so do our convictions. We begin to blend in to look like those around us in our Christian circles and no one's calling us out on it. We're constantly picking apart others to keep the attention and focus off ourselves, because looking at our own issues is painful.
Is the Devil Playing You?
Subconsciously we play the "if" game. If I had this. If I were that person. If I had those looks. If I had that kind of money. And the devil keeps pulling the strings. We need to start playing a different game. It's called "What if". What if we loved God and were as passionate as we were when we first handed over the playbook of our lives? What if we stopped living like everyone else? What if we stopped living for ourselves?
Let's put this scenario on the field.
What if Albert reversed his big me, little team philosophy? What if Albert found his love and passion for the game again? It would change everything for him. The articles and headlines, the conversations, his teammates, the contracts and offers. They would all spin the other way.
What if the cameras were rolling on your life? What if the reporters and analysts were watching and writing about you, about how you follow Jesus? What would the watchers and readers see? What would the headlines and sports tickers read?
May we not use excuses and justifications to keep us from playing our hearts out. May we stop playing the "grace card" as a reason to live the way we want instead of the life Jesus really called us to live. With all the grace and mercy given to us, how could we live any other way? With all the talents God has packed into us. With the humongous contract that He's given us. With the amazing call, plans and purposes He has for us, how could we not live a life that screams "Thank You" - a life that points to him and His greatness?
"For he called you into his Kingdom to share his glory." 1 Thessalonians 2:12
We can't forget that we're on borrowed time, living in a borrowed shell on a borrowed land, and we were destined to die with no hope for anything more, but then... May we share the "but then..." with others. May we remember the "but then..." for ourselves and grasp the enormity of it more and more. And may we remember that God has a playbook designed just for you with your name on the cover. We're called to open it and live it out and point people to him along the way.
That is our mission, now let's hit the field!
(Side Note: I started this blog about Albert Haynesworth back in January where it has sat for the past few months. Just recently Albert was traded to the New England Patriots where he'll be given a fresh start with a new team. We'll have to see what the writers, fans, and analysts report in the months to come. It should be an interesting story. I'm pulling for you, Albert. I hope you contemplate the "what if" and find something else in the process.)
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