Good Sunday to you all.
It is my hope that as the sunlight peeked
through your blinds and caressed your cheek, that you arose from your slumber
with a happy heart, an attitude of gratitude and an open mind, ready to seize
the day. Yet, while I wish this kind of serenity and peace of mind for you all,
I acknowledge that there are many who began this day in with pain on their
hearts, sadness on their minds and a seemingly unshakeable weight on their
spirit. We all go through what the great Donny Hathaway lamented are “Trying
Times”.
Now as a man who lives a life of faith, I personally know how
hard it can be for us to maintain our faith when in the midst of despair. Faith
calls us to reach past convention and ask “why not?” but fear in the midst of
challenges can make you cry out “why me”?
Thankfully, knowing how fragile our
faith can be at times, God uses some of his children here on earth as examples
of inspiration and hope.
This week, another such example emerged. Look no
further than the man wearing all purple.
No, I'm not talking about Barney the Dinosaur. And I'm certainly not referencing "Grimace", that dastardly, googly eyed fast food mascot that scared the bajeesus out of me to run and hide under a McDonald’s table when I was a child (….ok, I lied-that happened yesterday). I’m referring to Minnesota Vikings’ running back and future Football Hall of Famer, Adrian Peterson.
You may have heard that the 28 year old Peterson has to face the painful task of planning a funeral for his 2 year old son as he died from injuries caused by severe head trauma. Details on the case are still scant but it appears that the child was the victim of abuse by the hands of his mother’s boyfriend. When addressing the media just hours after his son’s untimely passing, Adrian displayed a remarkable level of control, focus and poise with tons of lights, cameras, microphones and digital devices pointed in his direction.
But, how? How does a parent whose child was murdered gather the strength not only to carry on, but also to face a national media onslaught that he really does not have to endure?
What makes you so strong, Adrian Peterson?
Take a quick glimpse at his life and you will soon see.
As if growing up in poverty in east Texas weren’t testimony enough, he witnessed his older brother being killed by a drunk driver when Adrian was just 7 years old. At the age of 13 his father was incarcerated on money laundering charges rendering him unable to guide his son through the most critical years of a teenage boy’s life and preventing him from being able to watch his son play football until his Junior year with the University of Oklahoma. On that day, Adrian broke his collarbone, ending his season. The night before his NFL combine (combine= a battery of speed, endurance and strength drills used to help determine an amateur player’s pro value) he received word that his half brother was murdered.
And probably most infamously (before last week), Peterson, by now an NFL superstar, tore two ligaments in his knee and thus his season ended.
“But that’s not how the story ends….”
Now, Adrian could have understandably shut down, broke down and given up. But when Adrian’s brother was murdered before the combine, he prayed throughout the night. Leaning on his faith and on the “everlasting arms” he found the strength to carry on, performing remarkably at the combine and cementing his positioning as a top pro pick.
And in 2012 after rehabbing from what can be and has been a career ending (if not altering) knee injury, he returned the next season and had one of the greatest individual seasons of ANYONE in sports history; leading his team to the playoffs and running just 8 yards short of the NFL, all time, single season record.
In a society where we are so quick to
pat ourselves on the back and bask in the shallow and fickle pools of public
praise, Adrian gave his historic comeback perspective by saying that “anything
is possible if you continue to put God first”.
But now, in the wake of his darkest hour what allows him to carry on? How can he possibly find the strength to go to work on a world stage and play for his team just less than a week removed from this unspeakable tragedy?
What makes you so strong Adrian Peterson??
His answer? “The good Lord won’t give you anything that you can’t handle. So I’m built tough”.
It is his faith that gives him the will to continue.
And it’s not just Adrian Peterson.
This week was filled with many testimonies of courage in the wake of incredible adversity and horrific circumstances.
Look to the courage of Elizabeth Smart.
But now, in the wake of his darkest hour what allows him to carry on? How can he possibly find the strength to go to work on a world stage and play for his team just less than a week removed from this unspeakable tragedy?
What makes you so strong Adrian Peterson??
His answer? “The good Lord won’t give you anything that you can’t handle. So I’m built tough”.
It is his faith that gives him the will to continue.
And it’s not just Adrian Peterson.
This week was filled with many testimonies of courage in the wake of incredible adversity and horrific circumstances.
Look to the courage of Elizabeth Smart.
Not enough platitudes and praise can be
heaped upon this resilient, selfless and phenomenal woman, now an activist for
the kidnapped, raped and abused.
You may remember that in 2002, Ms. Smart (now Mrs. Smart-Gilmour), was stolen from her Salt-Lake City bedroom when she was only 14 years old. For 9 hellacious months she endured torment, torture, and rape at the hands of her manipulative kidnappers. That she had the fortitude to survive such indignity is remarkable enough, but Elizabeth has done the seemingly impossible and turned her tragedy into triumph; becoming an inspiration to young women everywhere. But, how?? How does one survive the brutality of rape and isolation for 9 months? How does a 14 year old girl who is still growing in her faith make spiritual peace when your abductors are constantly telling you that your being shamed and secluded is “God’s work”? How does someone who experienced the worst private violations imaginable gain the strength to share and relive the details publically? What makes you so strong, Elizabeth Smart??
Her answer? “I knew that God loves me and that he would never abandon me…There were moments when I felt so low, I had no one to turn to, but God”.
You may remember that in 2002, Ms. Smart (now Mrs. Smart-Gilmour), was stolen from her Salt-Lake City bedroom when she was only 14 years old. For 9 hellacious months she endured torment, torture, and rape at the hands of her manipulative kidnappers. That she had the fortitude to survive such indignity is remarkable enough, but Elizabeth has done the seemingly impossible and turned her tragedy into triumph; becoming an inspiration to young women everywhere. But, how?? How does one survive the brutality of rape and isolation for 9 months? How does a 14 year old girl who is still growing in her faith make spiritual peace when your abductors are constantly telling you that your being shamed and secluded is “God’s work”? How does someone who experienced the worst private violations imaginable gain the strength to share and relive the details publically? What makes you so strong, Elizabeth Smart??
Her answer? “I knew that God loves me and that he would never abandon me…There were moments when I felt so low, I had no one to turn to, but God”.
Elizabeth has dedicated her
life to advocating legislation for the protection of the abducted and has
shared her time and spirit by speaking to youths in order to stimulate
awareness and empowerment. This week she has released a book detailing book her
path towards overcoming her ordeal.
No weapon formed against you will
prosper!!
Elizabeth Smart has so eloquently described the message that motivates her mission. She says, "All of us have the potential inside us to reach so much further and grow so much more than any of us think we can".
I have been blessed to have friends who are just as resilient as Elizabeth. These individuals are a tremendous inspiration to me. There’s my homie, Mariah. Mariah has battled through losing a parent at a young age and surviving homelessness and varying degrees of economic uncertainty. Today she is a strong, brilliant young woman, ever climbing the ladder of her career. I know from our many conversations that it is her faith that makes her so strong.
And then there’s my buddy Katrina. I recently learned that Katrina was involved in a terrible accident that left her with life threatening and life altering injuries. After enduring months and months of grueling physical and speech therapy, she has recovered and preparing to start a family of her own!! Congrats, Kat!! I’ll be honest, I don’t know what Katrina’s relationship with God is or if she even has one. But I do know from her testimony that it is within the love and faith of her family, loved ones and doctors, that she found comfort and confidence to carry on.
I don’t know what your personal circumstances are. Perhaps the loss or eminent loss of a loved one is causing you great despair. Perhaps the ghost of disease, benign or malignant has cast a shadow over your spirit. I know that disease may act as both thief and warden. It cannot only steal your joy but also places your imagination of tomorrow under arrest by handcuffing you with the shackles of fear of today. Maybe you, like so many others have anxiety about money or even food insecurity. Perhaps you have habits that are destroying you in some way but you can’t seem to shake. Whatever your personal trials may be, know that you are not alone. Know that faith in better things to come can help to lighten your weary load. Know that you can do all things through Christ who strengthens you. And so I ask, what makes YOU so strong?
Elizabeth Smart has so eloquently described the message that motivates her mission. She says, "All of us have the potential inside us to reach so much further and grow so much more than any of us think we can".
I have been blessed to have friends who are just as resilient as Elizabeth. These individuals are a tremendous inspiration to me. There’s my homie, Mariah. Mariah has battled through losing a parent at a young age and surviving homelessness and varying degrees of economic uncertainty. Today she is a strong, brilliant young woman, ever climbing the ladder of her career. I know from our many conversations that it is her faith that makes her so strong.
And then there’s my buddy Katrina. I recently learned that Katrina was involved in a terrible accident that left her with life threatening and life altering injuries. After enduring months and months of grueling physical and speech therapy, she has recovered and preparing to start a family of her own!! Congrats, Kat!! I’ll be honest, I don’t know what Katrina’s relationship with God is or if she even has one. But I do know from her testimony that it is within the love and faith of her family, loved ones and doctors, that she found comfort and confidence to carry on.
I don’t know what your personal circumstances are. Perhaps the loss or eminent loss of a loved one is causing you great despair. Perhaps the ghost of disease, benign or malignant has cast a shadow over your spirit. I know that disease may act as both thief and warden. It cannot only steal your joy but also places your imagination of tomorrow under arrest by handcuffing you with the shackles of fear of today. Maybe you, like so many others have anxiety about money or even food insecurity. Perhaps you have habits that are destroying you in some way but you can’t seem to shake. Whatever your personal trials may be, know that you are not alone. Know that faith in better things to come can help to lighten your weary load. Know that you can do all things through Christ who strengthens you. And so I ask, what makes YOU so strong?
*The title and recurring theme of this entry were inspired by The critically acclaimed book “What Makes You So Strong: Sermons of Joy and Strength... It was written by my beloved pastor Rev. Dr. Jeremiah A. Wright Jr. and is published by Judson Press. To purchase or find more info please visit http://www.judsonpress.com/
