The Proverbial Man

(by Dave, 5 min)

Scripture

Proverbs 29:23

Pride brings a person low, but the lowly in spirit gain honor.

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There was a football player I watched on TV years ago. Every time his number was called I got excited. The guy was stunningly elusive. Defensive men would be left tackling air he occupied a second ago. I learned recently that there was much about this person I did not know.

an award. When his high school team was way ahead in a game there was no reason to play the starters anymore. His coach asked if he wanted to stay in the game to maybe break a few high school records or sit and let the younger kids get some experience. He took a seat.

In his first professional game he was to watch from the sideline because he signed with the team that same week and didn’t know the plays. He stood on the field without a word of complaint to anyone. His team was losing. By the third quarter, the fans started raising a ruckus because the team’s number one draft pick wasn’t playing. The coach came to him and asked if he would go into the game. He said sure excited for the chance to play. After the coach explained a few plays, he electrified the stadium the first time he touched the ball.

Looking back, several of his NFL teammates commented that as he started to approach record levels of play, he didn’t seem to care. They were amazed that anyone could care so little about personal accomplishment. At the end of his rookie season, he needed 9 yards to win the NFL rushing title. He went to the sidelines and sat down. His teammates begged him to go in. They were excited for him to win the title figuring it would be good publicity for everyone. But he wouldn’t do it saying records didn’t matter to him. One of the offensive linemen commented that it was then the rest of the team realized this unique player truly didn’t care about his personal success. He cared only about the team’s success.

They were right about that. When he scored a touchdown, which was often, there was no dancing or jumping into the stands or writhing around on the ground. He would toss the ball to the referee and jog off the field. Every time. He did not like interviews with the press, but finally agreed to one. The reporter who interviewed him said the running back had one inviolate condition before agreeing. He told the reporter they could not film him getting out of his car and going through the player tunnel used by the team to get in and out of the stadium. He said he did not want the veterans to see that. He was concerned it would make them feel bad.

Later in his career he approached a huge statistical accomplishment. As the season wound down his teammates got the sense that this was a milestone he finally wanted. In their reflections about that time, you could hear how deeply they wanted him to break this record. Because he never wanted any accolades for his own play, it’s as if they relished an opportunity to finally support and help him reach this one personal goal.

He achieved the milestone and the films of his excited teammates at that moment are wonderful. In fact, the man who never celebrated a touchdown, gave few interviews, and took himself out of the game to avoid a shift in attention from the team to him was involuntarily hoisted up in the air on his teammate’s shoulders. They carried him from the field in celebration of achieving the one personal goal he seemed to care about.

He retired from football long before many of his caliber typically do. He just walked away feeling like the time for the team and for him was over. The city was very angry with him, but it passed. He continues to live there and is well loved attending and supporting many worthy causes. There is a statue of him now. The man who never aspired for fame will likely never be forgotten among football enthusiasts.

The professional life of Barry Sanders, the Detroit Lions running back in the 1990s, is a sermon illustrating the truth of Proverbs 29:23. It’s certainly valuable to analyze the Bible and think deeply about its theology. But sometimes life does something else for us. It shows us the truth of the Word. Aside from his running skill, there is nothing special about Mr. Sanders and he seems to realize that. What made/makes him special is that he chose to live by God’s precepts.

May the God of love warm your heart today with this story and inspire us all to stay true to the precepts of the Lord. The Bible’s teachings are true and will always bring joy to the heart and peace to the soul. Many blessings everyone,

Dave