Ladies and Gentlemen –
I know I have been woefully negligent in posting additional articles during this 2015 college football season. I guess like many of you I have gotten too caught up the past few weeks in the fast lane of life.
But two separate events took place this past weekend that gave me pause to think.
I hope you will take these lessons to heart and put them in the proper perspective
We currently live in a society that wants everything right “Now”
They don’t want adversity
They don’t want to experience hard times
They just want to “Win” and “Win” all the time, no matter what
It’s the instant gratification society
I want it and I WANT IT RIGHT NOW!
The past few weeks I have heard Paul Finebaum, fans and other self described “experts”………..
Call for the firing of Tennessee’s Football Coach, Texas’s Coach, and Georgia’s Coach to name a few
Sure there have been other coaches and staffs that fans have called for their firing
Before the season there was talk of firing Coach Miles at LSU
There have even been rumblings at the University of Alabama after their loss to Ole Miss
Why?
Because they want it all, right damn now.
No adversity, No difficulty; Just beat everybody by 100 points and “We” will all be happy happy happy.
The Paul Finebaum’s of the world feed this insatiable desire and encourage other fans to kick their opposition while they are down with rude and obnoxious behavior and comments.
When I hear a “fan” of any team says something like….
“WE” really beat your ass last week?”
I can’t help but think, I don’t recall anybody whipping my ass last week
And I usually respond with something along those lines quickly followed by….
“Would you like to give a shot now, I have time”
What ever happened to what Coach Bryant preached to us
“Win without bragging and lose without excuse”
I say all this to say, that too many people have lost their perspective on the game
Yes, I said “game”
I have heard recently concerning certain coaches and games
“He doesn’t know how to win”
EDITORS NOTE: Really, because that’s not what you were saying two weeks ago
“He never should be starting (Fill in the blank) in such in such position”
EDITORS NOTE: That’s funny because I wasn’t aware you ever coached quarterbacks or anything else for that matter.
“We SHOULD have won by more points!”
EDITORS NOTE: Can’t you just be happy with a win?
“We were embarrassed out there today!”
EDITORS NOTE: Football is a lot like life, sometimes you get embarrassed when you aren’t expecting it. No wait, that’s NEVER happened to you. Never mind…
Some people’s entire identity and how they feel is wrapped up in a three hour contest on Saturday afternoon, think about it.
Their mood for the week, their very attitude is tied up in a contest in which they had no impact on the outcome of it, at all.
Now don’t get me wrong, I like to win too and there have been times I was “beside myself” with the “Please Lord let them Win” mentality.
But that all changed some time ago and so did my perspective on what’s really important.
So where am I going with this?
Some weeks ago I wrote about a young man named Sid Ortis who is battling cancer that lives with his family in Mountain Brook Alabama who is a die-hard LSU Tiger fan.
I wrote about LSU Coach Les Miles and how be befriended Sid and prayed with him over the phone. Sid and his family were recent guests of the Mighty LSU Tigers at one of their home games in Baton Rouge.
I wrote how the Alabama – Auburn neighborhood in Mountain Brook where they live decorated the entire street in the purple and gold colors of LSU to welcome Sid back home after yet another stint in the hospital.
This Sunday Morning sixteen year old Sid Ortis passed away from the cancer that ravaged his frail body.
Surrounded by family, Sid passed away early this morning. “Today around 7:24 a.m., Sid won his race and is in Heaven celebrating,” his mom, Lynn Ortis, posted on Facebook.
“We are so proud of our son for not getting bitter, living life, trusting Jesus until the end. Please pray for us as we learn to live without him.”
Sid, just named the Sophomore Class Favorite at Mountain Brook High School on Friday, has made national news over the past year because of his courage, faith and newfound friendship with LSU Coach Les Miles.
In August 2014, Sid was diagnosed with osteosarcoma, or bone cancer. He went to a summer basketball camp and returned complaining of tightness in his knee. Since it was a week before Sid’s freshman year at Mountain Brook High School, his parents decided to take him to the doctor to get it checked out. In less than 24 hours, on Aug. 6, they had a diagnosis – bone cancer. Only about 400 children ages 20 and under hear those words each year.
Friends filled their home that night, and they prayed. Those prayers have continued en masse, worldwide, for the past 14 months. Two weeks ago, with nothing medically left to stop Sid’s aggressive cancer, he made the decision to go home.
“I’ve been told officially I only have a few weeks to live. I just want to thank everybody for the support I’ve gotten through this fight,”
Sid posted on Twitter Oct. 19. “It’s been a hard and painful fight. It’s never over though until God says it’s over.”
“I was really scared about coming home, but it’s been the best thing we ever did,” Lynn Ortis said in a previous interview. “It’s been beautiful. There’s been so much peace here.”
The Mountain Brook community embraced Sid and the Ortis family, which includes four other children, two of whom are adopted twin girls from Russia. Purple and gold has blanketed the community in honor of Sid’s beloved LSU Tigers. There have been bows, and pins, and lots of prayer. Recently, several hundred gathered at a Crestline ball field to pray for their friend. Also, 200 people held hands and surrounded the Ortis home to pray. Sid and his mom watched in awe through the window.
On Sid’s 16th birthday, there was a star-studded video tribute to him. Duck Dynasty star Sadie Robertson called him this week to talk. And then, of course, there is the friendship with Coach Les Miles.
Miles first called 16-year-old Sid Ortis and prayed with him in March, telling him, “Life is not how long you live, but how well you live it.” He then invited him to be his box-seat guest in Death Valley in September.
He phoned Sid again when he came home on hospice, and said, “When you get to Heaven, save a spot for me.” Miles called Sid again mid-week this week, but Sid was too tired to take the call.
Sid’s friends have surrounded him during his illness, and in recent weeks. Sid prayed with them and for them, and this was Sid’s prayer:
“Dear Lord, thank you for everything you’ve given me and these wonderful friends who have been there with me through the fight. And let them all live prosperous lives once I’m gone, and let everybody stay on the path of righteousness and not get away from You. Amen.”
So what’s important to you?
Is the only thing you have to worry about is next week’s football game?
Because some people aren’t going to have a “next week’s game”
Who is coaching what and who defeats who; that’s what you are worried about?
Count your blessings if that’s the only thing you are concerned about
I don’t have a crystal ball and I don’t know who is going to win next weeks game
Sure I would like my beloved Crimson Tide to win the game
But those Mighty LSU Tigers and their coach Les Miles are nothing but “Class”
And there is no shame in losing to an opponent of virtue
God Bless you Sid and your family…
Your prayer is worth repeating….
“Dear Lord, thank you for everything you’ve given me and these wonderful friends who have been there with me through the fight. And let them all live prosperous lives once I’m gone, and let everybody stay on the path of righteousness and not get away from You. Amen.”
RTR
THE CFB WIZARD