January 26th 1997 was the last time I had heard “Packers and World Champions” in the same sentence. That night my friend Brian and I sat in green t-shirts, with masking taped numbers, and watched the Packers hold up the Lombardi trophy. I knew each player by name, and have every one of their cards in a decorated 3 ring binder. To me, that was the pinnacle of success. My 9 year old mind couldn’t comprehend anything better than representing that organization.
Winning a super bowl has got to be a great feeling, but I don’t see that as the pinnacle of success any longer. Don't get me wrong, what guy wouldn’t want to sport a super bowl ring and hold up the Lombardi trophy?
However I’d rather be David Gentiles. You probably have never heard of him, and for good reason. He never won a professional ball game, wrote a best seller, starred in a movie, or even preached a sermon. Yet, last year his funeral was so large it filled a baseball stadium. Why? Because David loved on everyone he knew.
There is excitement in running onto a field of strangers chanting your name, but I’d rather be the guy filling up a stadium with friends to say goodbye.
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