Focusing on what matters most
I am a Kansas City Chiefs fan, and I was on the sofa ready to cheer on the Cincinnati Bengals last night, hoping for the Chiefs to move up in the AFC standings. I was watching when Damar Hamlin, safety for the Buffalo Bills, tackled his opponent, stood up, and then collapsed on the field.
As the game paused and medical staff attended to him, I saw the look on Sean McDermott’s face (the coach of the Buffalo Bills), and I commented to my husband, “He looks rattled. He doesn’t have a headset on, but he is walking and talking.” I wondered if he was praying. No matter what he was saying, his look communicated an elevated level of concern and distress.
They took a commercial break, and when they returned, the distress was now evident on the faces of the players on both teams, who were gathering on the field, surrounding their teammate. The commentator said CPR was being administered, and there was an ambulance on the field.
Over the next hour, there was a series of frequent commercial breaks, with very few updates in between. I have to say the ESPN commentators handled an incredibly difficult situation well. There was no speculation about his medical condition and no discussion on how the game could be completed. There was a sense of agreement that the game should not be resumed that evening, and I certainly agreed.
There are plenty of opportunities for us to see the worst of humanity. It is in the news daily, and we see it reflected in social media as well. I am not really interested in highlighting those.
I am eager to highlight the best of humanity.
The life of a professional football player changed in that moment, but something else changed...the perspective of those watching. What seemed significant was now meaningless, and we focused on a matter of life and death. When I saw those men on the field – tough, muscular athletes – openly weep on the field, my perspective changed.
Consider the responses on the field and across the nation.
Two teams arrived yesterday to compete, both with the intention to defeat their opponent and win the game. One tragic moment led those teams to join together, expressing concern, providing support, and abandoning their original purpose to retreat and recover. Opponents in the game comforting one another - that is noteworthy.
No two social media feeds are the same, but I noticed countless expressions of concern and offerings of prayer. When the occasional jerk spoke up, he or she was quickly reprimanded and reminded of what is most important. Sports analysts, current and former players, Hall of Fame members, and people across all social classes and backgrounds agreed – the game no longer mattered. What mattered was Damar.
If you were watching the game as I was, I am guessing you were shocked, too, and you desired to do something. I could not just continue to spectate. I had to do something, so I spent time praying – praying for the CPR to work, for his heart to beat, for him to breathe on his own, for him to live and recover. I prayed for his family, the Bills, and the Bengals.
And I was not alone. Fans from both teams gathered outside the hospital, lighting candles and praying. Only a few people were actively working to treat Damar Hamlin on the field during this medical emergency; however, countless others on the field, in the stadium, and in homes across the nation actively worked as well – through prayer.
And many gave in a way that seemed most appropriate – to the toy and clothing drive sponsored by Damar Hamlin’s foundation. The original goal was $2500, and at the time I drafted this blog, the amount raised exceeded $1.1 million dollars. At the time of posting this – only 12 hours after the game was suspended – $3.6 MILLION has been raised (as of 9 am CST on Jan 3). Even though we have no power over Damar’s health, we do have ways to support him, to give, and to simply be good people. Imagine the children who will be blessed through his foundation.
I do not know what will happen with this game or the AFC standings, but I can honestly say I do not care. I will still be a football fan. I will still root for the Chiefs. But much more than that, I want Damar Hamlin to recover – and for his teammates and opponents who witnessed his collapse and resuscitation to have the time and support to process what happened and to fully recover, too.
Perspective. It can change in an instant.
Our perspective can change as a result of a positive experience, but it tends to be those sudden, unexpected, traumatic events that instantly adjust our viewpoint. And when that event is shared – as it was last night by many viewers and football fans across the nation – the adjustment to perspective can also be shared.
A change in perspective helps us focus on what matters most to us – people, life, love, God, and other deeply held values.
I am reminded of a story I have heard my husband share. When we learn to drive, we are tempted to look in the foreground at what is near the car, rather than at the horizon. When we focus on the short term, we tend to overcorrect our steering. Our movements are more dramatic than necessary, and those jerky movements tend to be less safe. When we focus on the horizon (the long term), our driving is smoother, and we have plenty of time to adjust accordingly.
When we focus on the long term, on the people, values, and beliefs that matter most to us, that perspective helps us endure short-term problems, resting in our understanding of what or who is most valuable to us.
I do not usually share my personal faith in my blogs, but I hope you will indulge me this morning. My favorite Bible passage speaks to this concept. 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 says:
So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.
The people and world around us will eventually “waste away,” but our souls, our “inner self” can be renewed and transformed through Jesus Christ. While we will all endure trials in this life, even the worst, most heinous trauma will be “light” and “momentary” in comparison for the “eternal weight of glory” waiting for those who believe. That is the perspective that helps me handle the challenges and disappointments of daily life.
Don’t lose heart. May you find peace, hope, grace, and healing through a change in perspective. Together, we can love, pray, encourage, and generously give in ways that help others endure life trials, too. No football game and no consulting business matters more than that.
pc: Sandro Schuh via Unsplash
