We’d be better off
Just heard and was refreshed about Chris Conte’s matter of fact comments about trading the experience of playing football for a taking 10-15 years off his life span.
“I’d rather have the experience of playing and, who knows, die 10, 15 years earlier than not be able to play in the NFL and live a long life.
”– Chris Conte, Bears safety
Here is a football player who knew what he was getting into before he got into it. He assessed his risks and decided it was worth it. This kind of commitment is admirable and a truth all people must embrace if they want to be the best at what they do.
When I became a Christian I was warned that there would be tough days and I’d miss a lot because, quite frankly, I enjoyed sinning a lot. Now that I am older I still miss sinning a lot because I choose to. God;s calling is great. The sacrifices made have been worth it.
As a youth pastor for almost 25 years, I have also missed a lot. Being in the second (or 4th or 5th) has cost me financially and in other ways, but I did not know that when I was 22; but ask my 22 year old self if I would do it again and I would say yes. In any job you take you must ask “Do I want to be the best or do I want to be average?”. The answer to this question determines how much you will be sacrificing.
Let’s remember what Jesus said,
28 For which one of you, when he wants to build a tower, does not first sit down and calculate the cost to see if he has enough to complete it? 29 Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who observe it begin to ridicule him, 30 saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish.’ 31 Or what king, when he sets out to meet another king in battle, will not first sit down and consider whether he is strong enough with ten thousand men to encounter the one coming against him with twenty thousand? 32 Or else, while the other is still far away, he sends [a]a delegation and asks for terms of peace. Luke 14:28-32
For me, counting the cost is one way to deal with what Christine Hassler calls Expectation Hangover or when things don’t turn out the way we think they should. Jesus (and Chris Conte) have shown us a blueprint for getting the most out of life: 1) Know what we are getting into 2) Know the potential risks and rewards 3)Decide on the level of excellence we’d like to achieve and 4) Live with the outcome.
Your Turn
When you committed to your______________ (job, mission, passion,,etc.) Did you know what you were getting into? Would you do it all over again?
Have you decided how good you’ve wanted to be? (Average, Great, Legend, Epic?) Have you counted the cost for that? What will it cost you?
What would you be willing to trade to do what you love?