TheDiscipleMD
“Much I marvelled this ungainly fowl to hear discourse so plainly” (“The Raven”, Edgar Allan Poe)
A number of years ago Edwin Mulitalo spoke at a conference for our youth. He was a member of the 2000 Baltimore Ravens Super Bowel championship team. I remember his humility and the lesson he taught our youth when he pointed to the Super Bowl ring on his right hand and said, “This is a ring that signifies a wonderful accomplishment in winning the Super Bowl with the Ravens. It is very expensive and is a symbol of being on the championship team of the NFL. It is the pinnacle of what a football player wants to achieve!” Then he held up his left hand and pointed to a simple gold band that was around his ring finger. He said, “This is a ring that is not near as expensive as the one I have on my right hand. The Super Bowl Ring is of great value to the world but to me it pales in comparison to my wedding ring, which stands for the love of my wife and family. I would not trade a hundred Super Bowl rings for this ring. It is of more value and eternal in nature!”
He gave that talk more than a decade ago but I still remember the importance of that message. The things of this world really do fade with time. I am reminded of the words of Dwayne Thomas, a surly running back for the Dallas Cowboys back in the early 1970’s. He said, “If it’s the ultimate game, how come they’re playing it again next year!” As I have gotten older, I have seen the wisdom in that statement. May we remember that the honors and things of this world are temporary and will fade with time.
“And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.” (Luke12:16-21).
There is certainly nothing wrong with the pursuit of life’s super bowl rings but we need to keep its proper perspective as taught by Brother Mulitato that day. The glory of man fades with time, “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” (Matthew 6:33).
I often now quote Edwin the Raven, and ‘nevermore’ have I looked at my gold wedding band the same way!