This morning as I was getting up, there was a great story on ESPN. I’m so glad that the reporters take time to share stories like this. Especially in this day and age where, whenever you turn on the news, it seems like we are just being force-fed negativity. We are being force-fed division. We are being force-fed things that are evil and ugly. I know that is what grabs attentions. But I’m tired of seeing it. So much to the point that I don’t watch the national news much anymore. But the story today is different. This is one that should inspire us all. Because it is one of truly serving somebody else. Giving some thing up for the good of somebody else.
Chris Creighton is the head coach for Eastern Michigan University‘s football team. On August 3, he was talking to his team. Talking about Zack Conti. Zack is a senior offensive lineman on the football team. He has been a walk on his entire career at the school. During which he has played 23 games in the last two seasons. But this year he is going to be starting. Going into the camp, he was still considered a walk on. For those of you that don’t know what that means, he’s been playing without a scholarship. He’s been working a different jobs to raise the money to go to school. Because he loves football that much. Brian Dooley is also a senior on the football team. He is from Bowling Green, Ohio. Which means he is out of state. Prior to this team meeting, he went to the head coach and told him he was going to give up his scholarship in order for Zack to have one. Yes, you read that correctly. He gave his scholarship up so his teammate could have one. Now…that might not seem like a big deal. But it is. Especially for this reason: Brian is taking out a $25,000 student loan to go to school this year. Would you have done that?
We’ve been talking a lot about serving others. We’ve been talking a lot about the Holy Spirit taking control. We’ve been talking about our Lord and Savior loving us so much that he sacrificed himself for us. So today, let’s all learn from Brian. Let’s all learn about truly giving what you have to serve others. I’m not saying you must go out and give up your scholarship. I’m not saying you must go out and give out money you don’t have. What I’m saying is, let’s find ways to give of ourselves, to serve others. Just as Brian did. Just as Jesus did. Just as Jesus still does today.
