My new book, Home to Currahee, is available by request at your Christian bookstore or at several online retailers including: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Booksamillion, Parable, and Cokesbury.
Former NFL and New Orleans Saint football player, Jon Stinchcomb,
recently spoke at a Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) Banquet.
His tenure included playing on the Saint’s 2009 Super Bowl Team, and he continues
to be a favorite in these parts because during his college career, he played
for our beloved University of Georgia Bulldogs.
Jon spoke about the influence FCA had in his life while at
the University of Georgia and about his
older brother, Matt, who made sure he got up every Sunday to attend church.
His transition to the pros was not an easy one, and he stressed the importance
of his faith during those first years. However, his comments about his Super
Bowl experience are what have stayed with me. He said people often come up to
him and ask how the Super Bowl changed his life.
His response?
Of course, the Super Bowl was a huge event, which provided
him opportunity to meet celebrities and political figures he might’ve never
known. However, the Super Bowl did not define him, because he already knew who
he was and whose he was.
He knew when the next Super Bowl rolled around again; there
would be a new winner with other players getting the attention.
“The game loses its luster,” Jon said, “but your
relationship with Jesus Christ doesn’t.”
When the shine wears off a mountain top experience, perhaps an event
that had the power to define us for a time, we’re going to need to know who we
are apart from the attention and accolades of others.
We need to know that we belong to Jesus.
The apostle Paul wrote, “For we are God’s masterpiece.”
(Ephesians 2:9 NLT).
We are precious to Him, and nothing can take the shine off that.
Take it from a Saint.