:: what we should be known for...

i was browsing around today when i found something interesting on author don miller's blog (see the blog roll, it's suggested material...). don wrote an open letter of encouragement to tennessee titan's quarterback vince young.

here's some back-story ::

young, who sustained a knee injury in the titan's week one game against the jacksonville jaguars, has had some off the field issues recently. he has reportedly gone through some personal issues with his family, along with trouble dealing with the weight of carrying an nfl team on his shoulders and handling the scrutiny that comes with that job. it was learned that young pondered retirement just 2 years into his professional career. this weekend, after hearing boos from the crowd as he limped off of the field and later learning the extent of his injury (which will keep him sidelined 2-6 weeks), young reportedly went missing. young's absence prompted the family to call the titan's management and the police, as documented here. his mother also wrote a letter, asking for people to give her son space, love, and support.

i thought i'd post that letter here because i think it's a perfect example of how christians should react to those who are hurting. one of the things that christians have sadly become famous for is an innate ability to tear down celebrities just like everyone else. it happens to britney spears and paris hilton, and the response from christians and everyone else is (get ready for it) eerily similar. there is no difference. that should not be. so, here's don's letter ::

Dear Vince,

You are one hell of a football player. I won’t forget anytime soon your years at Texas. I was holed up on an island in the San Juan’s trying to wrap up a book when you beat USC in the last few minutes of the game. A friend from USC was texting during the game and rubbing it in USC was going to win. I texted her back and said she shouldn’t be so sure. I watched you beat Oklahoma State earlier in the year and knew you stayed poised under pressure. You did it in Stillwater and you did it in the national championship. And I think you’ve got what it takes to do it again.

Quarterbacks who succeed in college rarely succeed in the NFL. I could name a few who have failed, but why? You know who they are. I can’t imagine what kind of pressure an NFL quarterback endures, but it’s not any kind of pressure I have to deal with or, for that matter, any of your critics have to deal with. And who knows what else is going on in your life? It’s none of my business. I only know none of your critics have ever carried a team on their shoulders, and none of them have won a national championship. None of them.

I would think the only way to succeed as an NFL quarterback would be to pass through rough terrain. You would have to be comfortable making a lot of mistakes for a lot of years, and you’d have to endure a few losing seasons too. You helped make the Titan’s successful right away, which was amazing. But there have also been hard turns, and that isn’t something you are used to. But in view of your entire career, this isn’t the 4th quarter, it’s the 1st. You’ve got a long way to go, and I think you will pull it out.

But lets say you don’t. I mean lets say you quit the game and go on with your life. I don’t actually think that is such a bad move. If the game isn’t fun anymore, than who cares? It’s not like football is saving people’s lives, is it? And besides, you’ve already got stories to tell your kids and grandkids that will assure them they come from a remarkable lineage of talent and character. You won’t have to prove anything to them. And you have nothing more to prove to us. I wish you the best in whatever you decide to do.

One last thing. I’ve been a Vince Young fan since you’re days at Texas, and my fandom followed you to Nashville. But I’m not that big of a football fan. I get in about two games a week and follow the Seahawks and Titans. I have people over on Monday nights, you know. I’m not a big football fan but I’m a big Vince Young fan. I don’t care if you play the game or not. You’re a hell of a football player and a hell of a man. I learned to feel that way about people when I found out that is the way God felt about me. I have critics too, just like everybody.

But I don’t need to succeed in a game that doesn’t mean anything. And I don’t think you need to either. I know that is how God feels about all of us.

Whatever you do or whatever you decide, just know you’ve got a fan up in Oregon, by way of Texas, by way of Tennessee.

Sincerely,



Donald Miller

P.S. I read one of your critics online and left a comment saying he was a spineless coward who didn’t know his ass from a hole in the ground. Thought you’d like that.

good stuff.

more to come...