Sunday, February 6, 2011

the facts on winning.

Vince Lombardi was famous. He was one of the most successful coaches in NFL history and praised for his motivational speeches and teachings. One of his most known quotes is this:

winning is not a sometime thing; it's an all the time thing.

I learned a little bit more about Vince Lombardi today at church. Packers fans drive past 667 Sunset Circle to get a glimpse of the house Lombardi lived in. Maybe to get some of the motivation that he so famously was known for. Maybe to get the inspiration his players felt every time he gave a speech. But here's the thing. His children, the ones that lived in that house with him for so many years, they never go back. Because they know the man he was behind that door.

Some say that the football field was full of Lombardi's greatest accomplishments. But more importantly is this, 667 Sunset Circle was full of his greatest failures.

If you ask me, I would say his success was only a sometime thing. Maybe it's because he defined winning as the team with the most points on the scoreboard when the clock hit zero instead of the father who taught his children with Love and care.

I think he could take a lesson from Daniel Sepulveda, the punter for the Steelers. This is his second chance to play in the Super Bowl and this is the second time that he has been injured. During an interview, he was asked if he was angry that this has happened to him for a second time. He said obviously he was frustrated, but angry, no. You see, Daniel knew that his football career could come and go, but the one thing that's constant is God's love for him. Besides, God does everything for a reason, right? How often does the punter get interviewed, and here he was being interviewed and he was able to give all the glory to God.



So, what's the point of all of this? I'm not saying don't enjoy the game because it's football and it's fun and exciting. But don't make it everything. Don't put your hope in a game because the glory fades. Put your hope in God because He will always be faithful.

"He must increase, but I must decrease." John 3:30