Enrichment

This morning, I heard on the radio much commentary on the Michael Vick story. In case you have not heard, Michael Vick is currently the top-ranked quarterback in the NFL.

Ten years ago, he was the first player taken in the NFL draft. He earned tens of millions of dollars, while becoming a pro bowl quarterback. Then, federal investigators discovered he was running a dog-fighting ring. 

Vick was sentenced to almost two years in prison. Last year, the Philadelphia Eagles decided to give him a chance as a back-up quarterback. This year, after starter Kevin Kolb got hurt the first game of the season, Vick took over as the starter and, now, might be the best player in football.

This has made a number of people mad. They feel that Vick should be banished from the sport forever.

One talk-show host compared these people to those who are bitter over the brokers of Wall Street, who cost people their life savings, went to prison, and are now seeking to live a better life. They just can’t let this sin go. The Wall Street reference made me think.

Material riches will one day rot or burn up. Forgiveness is a quality that will enrich the soul forever.

Who Is Going to Hold?

John Brodie was pro football’s first player to sign an million dollar contract. His career spanned from the late fifties to the early seventies and during his prime, he was without doubt one of the great quarterbacks in the game.

In the mid-sixties, Brodie and the old American Football League’s franchise—the Houston Oilers—arranged a deal which called for him to switch leagues and join the Oilers. It was this transaction that helped to cause the merger between the National Football League and the AFL.

Because of his success, a reporter decided to goad Brodie a little during a particular press conference. The reporter asked Brodie why it was that a million dollar quarterback had to hold the football on field goals and extra-points. "Well," Brodie replied, "If I didn't, it would fall over."

Now that's a great answer. John Brodie certainly didn't have to hold the football. Some other "lesser" player could have performed this menial task. But Brodie's answer indicated an attitude of humility. An attitude which displayed that he was not too big for a job.

Surely we Christians, called by Jesus to be a humble people, can demonstrate this kind of spirit.