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September 19th.
2007
SEASON OF LIFE
I was fortunate this summer
to be a part of a fundraiser for the Valley HUB which included a speech
by legendary Gonzaga, and now NBA, basketball player Dan Dikau.
One of the things that struck me most about Dan was his easy, down to
earth manner. Even more so was his unwavering commitment to his family.
If you have not followed Dan’s professional career, let’s just say he’s
been a part of a number of multi-player trade agreements. Subsequently,
he has had to uproot not only himself but also his family a number of
times. When asked if his family would be moving with him to his most
recent trade to New York. He responded with an almost child-like naïve
bewilderment at the question. “Of course my family is coming…I mean, we
are family, and they are the most important thing to me. Why would they
not come?”
Directly after this response he told those gathered how reading Jeffery
Marx’s Season of Life had completely changed his life. This New York
Times Bestseller is a deeply inspiring story about the author and his
relationship with one time NFL great, and now minister and high school
football coach, Joe Ehrmann.
Ehrmann’s own personal transformation, prompted by the death of his
younger brother, motivated him to establish a program entitled Building
Men for Others. Through this program individuals learn, “Being a man
means emphasizing relationships and having a cause bigger than yourself.
It means that empathy, integrity and living a life of service to others
are more important than points on a score board.”
This of course is completely counter-cultural to the values we often see
displayed in sports, entertainment, the business and general work world.
At their core, these are what we call Gospel values. These are values
that, when lived as a “season of life”, lead to the life-changing
transformations that Dan Dikau, Joe Ehrmann and all those that embrace
the Gospel experience.
Blessings,
The Rev. Brian N. Prior, Rector
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