“Don’t store treasures on earth; save them in heaven instead."
~ Matthew 6:19-20
Eighteen years ago, Pat Tillman
was living a life that most young men only dream of. He’d married his high-school sweetheart and
accepted a multi-million dollar contract to play professional football for the
Arizona Cardinals where he went on to become one of the team's fan
favorites.
But in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks on the World
Trade Center and Pentagon on 9/11, Tillman's priorities changed. He decided to forego his NFL career and fight
for his country instead, made him a hero to some of the people he used to
admire - U.S. Army Rangers.
Tillman and his brother Kevin, who had been a Major League
Baseball prospect, joined the service together.
Both men were deployed to Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom.
At age 27, Tillman was killed in a firefight near the
Pakistan border as he was leading his team to help comrades caught in an
ambush. The Army initially claimed he
was killed by an enemy attack, but it was later revealed to be friendly fire.
The reaction to Tillman's death shook the nation. Tributes and donations poured in. The Cardinals retired #40 and ASU, his alma
mater, retired #42 in his honor. But the
most lasting testament to his legacy is the Pat Tillman Foundation, which
provides academic scholarships to veterans and their spouses to this day.
Pat Tillman believed that serving his country in a time of
crisis was of greater importance than sports, even if it meant losing his life
for it. His selflessness and bravery
remind us of what it looks like when someone makes a tough decision after
seeing the bigger picture - a “Cathedral Thinker.”
Cathedrals are incredible testaments to human endeavor. The idea of Cathedral Thinking dates back
through to medieval times, when the architects, stonemasons and artisans laid
plans and began construction of the soaring, cavernous structures knowing for
certain that they’d never see them finished.
They knew only that they were creating something glorious which would
stand for centuries, long after their own names had been forgotten.
As Christians, we have the same challenge. We make daily
decisions that affect our own lives and the lives of those around us. It’s not always easy to know what decision to
make; choosing the right job, marrying the right person, or serving in the
right ministry all have lasting consequences.
That’s where having the right perspective can make all the
difference. When we focus on the here
and now or focus on “What’s in it for me?” we do so at the expense of
eternity. An eternal perspective is like
looking at the bigger picture; you sacrifice something today for the greater
reward you will reap tomorrow.
Almighty Father, in today's hustle and
bustle, it’s too easy to move through the day disconnected from our capacity as
humans to be kind and caring. Teach me
to become fluent in kindness; compassionate to others, to the earth and to
me. Amen
