Through a series of miracles and favors from friends across the country, Shawn and I will be at Super Bowl 50. I have also been asked to do several interviews about The QB Mentor during Super Bowl week on media row. Only the good Lord could have arranged these series of events and I'm grateful that He's using me.
Who am I pulling for in Super Bowl 50? Well, although my allegiance is split from my old team to my home state team... At the end of the day, I will be pulling for the Panthers. (And Shawn will be in his Cam Newton Jersey!)
The QB Mentor has been a labor of love for me and my family. In addition to the Super Bowl events, we are setting up book signings and radio interviews and will be attending a big Nashville event of Christian radio stations that will promote the book. I have been asked to speak at high schools, boys and girl’s clubs and prison ministries, and that humbles me to have the opportunity to encourage and hopefully inspire people with stories of perseverance, challenge and setback in my own life. At the end of the day, it seems to me that is what life is all about; how did your path in life make it better for those that you encountered.
As I watch Coach Wilson work his magic and mentoring to so many young quarterbacks, I have sat back and come to see that life can basically be divided into thirds. The first third of a person’s life is about ones own self, about developing your skills and talents to become the best that you can become. The next third is usually associated with growing a family and the focus grows from JUST ME to more of an US. and then, in the last third of life, as family grows and becomes independent, it seems to me that the focus turns to community, society and reaching out to others beyond family to offer benefit and grace to those less fortunate. The focus of a healthy life seems to shift as a person matures from focus on self, to focus on others.
I think I am a little early to be contemplating the last third of my life, but then again, this stage four leukemia diagnosis tends to cause me to accelerate my perspective on life more than ever before. And it’s OK, as I enjoy being able to help encourage and inspire others beyond my circle of family and friends.
Perhaps that is the focus of PAYING IT FORWARD, the idea that all the good that has been offered to me in my career and life doesn’t end with me, but rather, continues and is possibly amplified and expanded as I am able to offer it beyond myself.
I like that, and hope the Lord uses me to expand His kingdom of love and grace in this world, through The QB Mentor, or speaking, or just friendships along my path in life for as long as I am able.
Amen and AMEN.