Read
I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
2 Timothy 4:7
Reflect
As a fan of the Florida Gators, I always love a good story that pokes a little fun at our rivals, the Florida State Seminoles. One of my favorite stories had former Seminole coach Bobby Bowden arriving in Heaven and getting a personal tour from the Lord. God took Bobby past the crystal seas, along the streets paved with gold and to his own personal mansion. It was a beautiful place and seemed fitting for a guy like Bobby Bowden. It was a large, welcoming place, shaded with beautiful oaks and with a Florida State flag flying from the front porch, which was occupied by several large rocking chairs.
Bobby was grateful, but he also noticed that next door was an enormous place that dwarfed his new estate. The walkway to this home was lined with flags for the Florida Gators. The home had more than a dozen columns, and on each column was another Gator flag. The front door was huge and was painted orange and blue, and Bobby could hear that the doorbell played the Florida fight song.
Not wanting to seem ungrateful, Bobby spoke to the Lord respectfully, saying, “Lord, I really love my place. It’s more than I could ever hope for, but I have to wonder. I served you faithfully throughout my entire life, but I see that next door Steve Spurrier has a place that is five times bigger than my own. Why is that?”
God smiled and said, “That’s not Steve’s place, Bobby. It’s mine.”
You might have heard that yesterday, Bobby Bowden actually did cross life’s goal line and entered into the next life. And I’m quite certain that his heavenly reward was immense. Fans of rival teams tend to grumble against the other teams’ coaches, but honestly, there’s nothing we could say about Bobby. The main reason we didn’t like him was because he kept winning against our team. When he finished his coaching career, he was one of the winningest coaches in college football history with 377 wins. And outside of football, there was nothing we could say about him other than that he was a good, decent and godly man. He might have been the only Gospel that a lot of folks experienced, and his consistency surely commended Christ to countless people.
I actually got to hear Bobby Bowden speak at my church in Jacksonville about 30 years ago. I’d found a copy of a biography about him, and he graciously signed it for me afterward. Bobby was a man filled with faith who inspired faith in those around him and who lived a life of great honor and even greater faith. In the past 24 hours there has been almost no end to the praises that have streamed forth from former players and coaches, as well as fans and people who just couldn’t help but like Bobby. We should all hope for even a fraction of the tribute that he is deservedly receiving. And yet I suspect Bobby would be deflecting all of that praise to the One who he served his entire life.
We may never be the recipients of national or worldwide accolades when our number is called, but we should look to follow the example of those like Bobby Bowden, who lived a life of excellence in football and even greater excellence in his faith. Today, give thanks for the life of Mr. Bowden and for the way he followed the path of Christ. And make sure the way you live your life — both in your vocation and in your personal life — commends the Lord to those you encounter.
Reflection copyright © 2021 Doug DeBolt.
Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
