Perspectives: Who you are
by Brad Locke - Guest Columnist
February 26, 2007
(OneNewsNow.com) - - There is a mental component to every sport; an emotional one, too. They're hard to see and quantify. So the ultimate measure of an athlete is found not in what he thinks or what motivates him, but in what he does. He is defined by his actions, and sports is all about action.Take Peyton Manning. By leading the Indianapolis Colts to the Super Bowl XLI championship, he has forever defined himself as one of the NFL's greatest quarterbacks, a champion nonpareil. Before the Super Bowl win, Manning was defined by his failure to win the huge game.
Here's a dirty little secret for you: Manning's current legacy is as fragile and malleable as his old one.
One would hope that when his career's over, Manning's legacy would be one of a smart, talented, classy athlete who played like a champion and would be a role model for kids. He seems to be well on his way to cementing such a legacy; I just hope people are smart enough to realize it.
Manning is a shoo-in for the Hall of Fame, but unfortunately, many people will use that honor to comprehensively define him. If we've learned nothing about our athletes, though, it's that sometimes their character doesn't come close to matching their ability in terms of quality. Take Ty Cobb, O.J. Simpson, Wilt Chamberlain, et al. -- not guys I'd want my kids emulating as people.
Which brings me to another point.
What too many people believe is that what you do defines who you are.
Not true, not even in sports. Who you are determines what you do.
Manning is a great quarterback because of his work ethic, his intellect, his toughness, his desire, his passion, and so many other characteristics.
Of course, that only defines him on the football field. Off the field, we also think men are defined by their actions. If that were the case, then I'm a thoroughly confused man, because I see an athlete writing a big check to charity one day and then getting arrested the next. Mixed signals, buddy.
Good works alone should not define a person. The same goes for failure. Good and bad deeds do nothing more than reveal a man's heart, which is often a paradoxical organ. And there are only two kinds of hearts: dirty and clean. A corrupt heart will make itself known, if not to man, then certainly to God. Man can easily fool his fellow humans with righteous-looking deeds, but you can never fool God.
As for the clean heart, it is made so by no power of man. When Jesus Christ cleanses one's heart of sin and corruptness, it is His righteousness that comes to define that person. As the sanctification process unfolds, what a Christian's actions reveal is his new nature.
You see, no amount of good works can define a man, and what separates a philanthropic, socially conscious person from a hardened criminal is a thin veil of self-righteousness that will not hold up on Judgment Day. That day, we'll all be exposed for who we truly are.
Brad Locke (checkswinger@gmail.com) is a sports journalist in Tupelo, Mississippi. Opinions expressed in 'Perspectives' columns published by OneNewsNow.com are the sole responsibility of the article's author(s), or of the person(s) or organization(s) quoted therein, and do not necessarily represent those of the staff or management of, or advertisers who support the American Family News Network, OneNewsNow.com, our parent organization or its other affiliates.
