Decisions: The Urban Meyer Edition

For those that follow college football, you are well aware at this point of the news surrounding Urban Meyer, University of Florida Head Football Coach.  It was rumored on Saturday that he would be resigning from his position at the height of his career…Why?  What was the deal?  This is a coach who over the last few years has put together an unbelievable run at Florida including 2 National Championships and bringing Florida football back to the top of the notoriety list in not only the Southeastern Conference but also nationally.  Well, the reasoning being publicized was health related and at this point the college football nation was just in shock that this successful young coach would be hanging up the whistle for devotion to faith, family and health.   Then all of a sudden on Sunday morning after a practice in preparation for Florida’s upcoming bowl game, we heard that Meyer would just be taking a leave of absence from the position after the bowl game to refocus, prioritize and find a balance in life.

WOW!  That is quite a bit to think about for a guy.  He has spent his entire career working towards leading a program just as he has been and then to sustain that legacy at a high level!  And now this…just walking away?  It was truly too much to fathom for Meyer.  I have heard many media outlets bashing Urban for this whirlwind “drama” as it has been dubbed…well I would like to say this to Urban Meyer…”Good for you!”  Good for you that you would have an awareness that your priorities may be a little out of line.  Good for you that you would step down from the throne of college football and reevaluate life.  Good for you that being a husband and father is important enough to think about.  Good for you that this would come to a point of contemplation prior to losing your family as is the situation for many other high-profile individuals in the sports/entertainment world.   Good for you that you still want to be involved in a game you love, influencing young men’s lives and still being a father and a husband.  Know this Urban, you can still be those things…yes some things might need to be adjusted, but the main focus needs to be in one place…Glorifying God in whatever you do.  Whatever your decision is, make it with eternity in mind…adhering to a passage found in Colossians 4:15-18:

“Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace.  And be thankful.  Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.  And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”

And what about you?  You may not be Urban Meyer with so much media surrounding you, but do you ever ask yourself the same questions that Meyer is facing?  Where are my priorities?  Is my job in front of my faith?  Am I putting myself in front of my family?  Does my health suffer because I place too high of an emphasis on getting that last little thing finished on the checklist that won’t allow me time to exercise today?  Listen, this is coming from a “type A” guy who is all about checklists…just ask my wife and those that work around me…but wouldn’t you agree that these are great questions to ask ourselves?

May our observation of a man contemplating where he is in life and where life is in him spur us to do the same…to look deeply at the things which have impact and really matter…to look deeply at the things with a biblcal and eternal perspective.

Until the nets are full,

Wesley

~ by Wesley Dunn on December 29, 2009.