On September 27, 2008, the favored Florida Gators football team was upset in a stunning loss to Ole Miss. The Gators, led by the soft-spoken, Christ-declaring, Heisman Trophy winning (last season) quarterback Tim Tebow (home schooled, by the way, with parents who are missionaries), quickly lost their goal of an undefeated season. Their national standings also slipped, of course, and they were forced to play the rest of the year in catch-up mode.
After the loss to Ole Miss, Tim Tebow gave the usual after-game analysis. It was full of the normal salutations to the other team, what Florida could have done better, etc. But then, unexpectedly, at the end of these statements, young Mr. Tebow did something special. He spoke from the heart.
Last year, Tim Tebow won the Heisman trophy, the pinnacle of college football individual achievement. But life is not always winning and awards, as the Florida Gators lost the Florida Citrus Bowl to the Michigan Wolverines 41-35 (In a game that had me split in half, for sure)! Then, early in this season, Tebow and the Gators were upset by Ole Miss.
Champions don't always win. The skies are not consistently rosey for anyone. Everybody takes shots, experiences losses, gets knocked down, and gets dealt losing hands. I wish statements like this next one didn't start to sound like cliches, because it robs them of the power of their truth, but:
"It's not what happens to you, it's how you respond."
Think about that statement.
I deal with all types of people from all walks of life. The one thing I can say that consistently separates the winners from the rest is the attitude embodied in this statement, and in the type of comments made by Tim Tebow following his loss to Ole Miss.
Notice Tebow didn't promise victories; he knew he couldn't guarantee that.
Also notice that he didn't make excuses; he accepted responsibility.
But he instead went toward hard work, encouraging others, and team play. That's what champions do. They come back strongly.
And perhaps the best thing Tebow said was, "a lot of good will come out of this."
That's the attitude of a champion. In the seeds of adversity is found the good of future strength.
I don't know what troubles you may be facing in your life. I don't know what reversals this tough economy might be putting you through. But I do know that if you have the attitude of overcoming, of a proper response, of courage and perseverance, and you respond to your challenges and setbacks by allowing them to make you better and stronger; you will win. Oh, not always.
After all, it's not about winning every game.
It's about becoming a champion in the process.
That's what Tim Tebow and the Florida Gators did. And for the way in which they did it, I congratulate them.
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