God's Hall of Fame

GOD’S HALL OF FAME

 

My son’s journey in life has been like few have traveled.  Brad, as a young boy, set his sights on making a career as a professional athlete—basketball was his love and football was his second choice.   Basketball gave him wonderful memories----recognition in being selected All State, and the AAA Player of the Year in 1986 in N.C. in 1985.   Football in high school was kind to him as well.  There were no championships, but individually, he received recognition as All State, the AAA Player of the Year in N.C., Parade All American in 1986, and a scholarship in football to Florida State.  A career in the NFL seemed like a possibility.  However, things seemed to get off track a little in college. Injuries and great competition was too much for him to overcome at that stage in life.  He did have a few shinning moments, but they were brief.  He walked on the basketball team as a freshman and started a few games ‘88-’89, including a NCAA tourney game.  He had a brief tenure as FSU’s starting QB in 1990—6 games, before being benched in mid season, becoming a backup for his last season and half.  He did manage to get drafted by the Minnesota Vikings in 1992, as the 15^th QB in the draft that year.  His NFL career started slowly, but began to hit its stride in middle of 1996.  His highlights have been few, but they were truly highlights--- Pro Bowl appearances with the Redskins in 1999 and another in 2002 with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, in a season that included a Super Bowl win as the starting QB in Super Bowl XXXVII.  Now, at age 37, he is closing his career in obscurity as the backup to Daunte Culpepper with the Vikings.  Brad will officially retire from his career before the age of 40. Life will move on for him—he is a father of two boys, and has a lovely wife, Nikki.  A home boy at heart, Brad will soon have plenty of time at home. 

 

For all of us, through it all, there is a life to live. We have our individual journeys. We will have our different stops along the way.  We all have families, we all have careers, we all have dreams, we all have relationships, and we all will have a few hours on the bright stage. We will experience disappointments as well. What we will realize along our journey is that our successes and failures are really imposters! They come and they go. Nothing on this earth lasts forever.  Only eternity last forever—everything on earth is just a series of events, some lasting longer than others. Through the maze of life, we should remember that the most important thing always remains; are we placing our trust in the Lord, and are our lives glorifying Him?  If so, a place in God’s Hall of Fame awaits us.

 

 

GOD’S HALL OF FAME:

 

This crowd on earth

They soon forget

The heroes of the past.

The cheer like mad

Until you fall

And that’s how long you last.

 

But God does not forget

And in his Hall of Fame

By just believing in his son

Inscribed you’ll find your name.

 

I tell you, friends,

I would not trade

My name however small

Inscribed up there

Beyond the stars

In that celestial hall

 

For any famous name on earth

Or glory that they share

I’d rather be an unknown here

And have my name up there