Underdogs0
Posted In Life,Ministry Lessons
I love underdogs. Who doesn’t? Cheering for the underdog is a national pastime. One of my favorite movies is Rudy, which could possibly be the greatest underdog story ever.
Recently I read a story about Maurice Clarett attempting a comeback into professional football. If you aren’t familiar with Maurice, here is a refresher:
Clarett, a former Mr. Football in Ohio, started for the Buckeyes as a freshman and quickly asserted himself as one of the premier running backs in the country. He rushed for 1,237 yards in 2002, helping Ohio State to its first national championship in 34 years.
But he was ruled ineligible the following year for taking special benefits worth thousands of dollars. He sued to enter the NFL draft early, before he was out of high school for three years, but lost in court.
After he was eventually drafted by the Broncos, he was cut before the season started. Then, in September 2006, he pleaded guilty to having a hidden gun in his sport utility vehicle and holding up two people outside a bar.
Maurice did his time in prison and then did 4 1/2 months in a transition house. Now he wants a shot at his passion again. He wants to play football. He’s stayed in shape and if he can prove he has his head on straight, there is a team in the United Football League that wants to give him a tryout.
I hope he makes it. I even hope he makes it back to the NFL and is successful. Call me crazy, but I love the underdog. He paid the price for his mistakes and deserves another shot.
Why is it so easy for us to cheer for sports underdogs, but not ministry underdogs?
A close friend and mentor of mine, Justin Davis, was exactly that. He was a successful pastor in a church he started and then had an affair.
Let me guess. Your heart didn’t flutter with excitement at the thought of him pastoring again did it? Justin’s comeback journey was painful and his marriage went through the most intense refinement possible… and it worked.
The underdog, who most weren’t cheering for, is now a campus pastor and on the teaching team at Cross Point Community Church. The journey isn’t over though. He wants others to learn from his experience and has started Refine Our Marriage.
I know most of my readers aren’t in that season of life, but one day you will be. We can still take away a lot from their story. I know that I have. The main thing that keeps sticking out to me is this: I have 54 days before I will be married and I am 100% sure that Justin loved Trisha just as much as I love Amy 54 days before their wedding.
I am not above anything. This isn’t a “this can’t happen to me” scenario. I am so thankful for the wisdom that their story has spoken into my life and you will be too.
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