As I watched Michael Irvin give his acceptance speech for his induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame I was struck. Here was a man who had everything. Achieved the highest of goals. A champion athlete, hero to some, and villain to others. But with all his excellence and success there were the demons. The drugs, women, etc. He stood at the podium in tears and apologized to his wife and kids. He prayed. It seemed like true humility.
But even with all the acclaim he's received, he knows he didn't do "it" correctly. That he threw people under the bus. He told his boys not to do the things that dad did. The road to excellence may seem easy at times, but it's often marked with potholes, repaving, roadblocks and bridge collapses.
It's funny how celebrities lead their lives. Their triumphs and tragedies are very public; even the mundane is reported. But what I've been drawn to is how some of them manage to come through the tragedies they face. Is there true humility? True brokenness? A realization that there is true redemption? It looked as though Michael Irvin understood. That despite his troubles God granted him grace and mercy. That he didn't just rest on his triumphs or self will to succeed.
"...let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God." - Hebrews 12:1-2
God knows our struggles, and in order to complete this race we must give our sins to Him. Otherwise, we're going to fall at every step. The lifelong struggle...
