Vince Young

Vince Young is my hero.

Well, that’s not exactly true. To be honest, my level of football knowledge doesn’t go very deep. But I recently did a little research on Vince Young. And I must say, I am impressed.

He played football for the University of Texas, and did well there. Well enough, in fact, to be noticed by the pro league. He left Texas after his jr. year to play for the Tennessee Titans. He sat on the bench for a month, and then, his coach gave the rookie a shot. He went on to be named “Rookie of the Year”.

But it was what came later that impresses me the most. He recently revealed that he nearly quit after his rookie year. He said it just wasn’t fun anymore. Fans across the nation were shocked that this successful ball player nearly called it quits after such a short time. But I’m not shocked.

I think it just makes him a normal person.

What impresses me the most is that he recognized that some things just aren’t worth it. You can have all the money in the world, all the fame, all the power, and yet be miserable. Sometimes, all the stuff we work so hard for isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. You can gain everything you thought you wanted, yet lose what is most important.

Many people would never have even considered saying goodbye to all that glory. Most of us would have just kept working, trying to achieve more and more and more, hoping to find happiness over the next bend.

But not Vince. He was wise enough to recognize that happiness doesn’t come with awards, or money, or fame. He was wise enough to step back and reevaluate his life. He was man enough to consider letting it all go, in order to pursue something more real.

When asked how he came to his decision to continue playing, he said, “I prayed really hard. And I began to focus on God's calling for me. Play football. Be a role model."

I repeat: Vince Young is my hero.

There are times when I want to quit my job, too. There are times when life just isn’t fun any more. But at those times, if I really step back and evaluate things, I will almost always find that I have taken my focus off of the basics. I have placed my eyes on the things that aren’t important, such as money and success. I have paid too much attention to what other people say about me. And I discover I’ve lost my joy.

But in that one statement, Vince has fulfilled his desire to become a role model. He has become my role model. When we lose our joy in life, we would all do well to respond just as he did.

First, we need to recognize that it’s just not fun anymore, and ask ourselves why. Then, we should pray really hard. We should ask God what He wants us to do, and seek His purpose for our lives. We need to just push all the extra stuff aside, and focus on doing the jobs God has given us.

Play football. Teach school. File papers. Answer the phone. Do the laundry, wash the dishes, kiss the boo-boos. Do your job.

Be a role model. Do the right thing. Smile at someone. Say something kind. Don’t cheat on your taxes. Don’t cut in line. Encourage others. Make a difference.

I hope Vince has rediscovered the joy he once knew in football. I believe he will, as long as he continues to focus on the basics – pray hard, play football, be a role model.

Mark 8:36 "For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world, and forfeit his soul?”