11 Jan, 2008
Chasing the wind?
Patriots Quarterback Discusses His Career And Other Aspects Of His Life
Tom Brady has been called the most eligible bachelor in America. “It's very flattering. But, at the same time, I don't think I sleep any better at night being that. No way,” says Brady.
His all-American image took a hit last year, when actress Bridget Moynihan, his longtime girlfriend, announced that she was pregnant with Brady’s son shortly after the couple broke up. Brady is supporting the child but is now dating supermodel Giselle Bundchen.
In addition to his success on the field and his sex appeal off it, there is a $60 million, 10-year contract to play for the Patriots. He has turned down multimillion-dollar endorsement deals because he didn’t think they were right for him, and many of the ones he does, he shares with his teammates.
But with all of Brady's fame and career accomplishments, he said in a CBS 60 Minutes interview, “Why do I have three Super Bowl rings and still think there's something greater out there for me? I mean, maybe a lot of people would say, ‘Hey man, this is what is.’ I reached my goal, my dream, my life. Me, I think, ‘God, it's got to be more than this.’ I mean this isn't, this can't be what it's all cracked up to be.”
What's the answer?
“I wish I knew. I wish I knew,” says Brady. "I love playing football and I love being quarterback for this team. But at the same time, I think there are a lot of other parts about me that I’m trying to find."
With three Super Bowl rings, he already has Hall of Fame credentials, even if he never played another game. But he's only 30 and just entering his prime.
“My favorite ring? I've always said, you know, I always said the next one. The next one is the best,” Brady says.
photo & story courtesy thunderstruck.org, 1/6/08
Ecclesiastes 2:1-11 (NLT)
The Futility of Pleasure
1 I said to myself, “Come on, let’s try pleasure. Let’s look for the ‘good things’ in life.” But I found that this, too, was meaningless. 2 So I said, “Laughter is silly. What good does it do to seek pleasure?” 3 After much thought, I decided to cheer myself with wine. And while still seeking wisdom, I clutched at foolishness. In this way, I tried to experience the only happiness most people find during their brief life in this world.
4 I also tried to find meaning by building huge homes for myself and by planting beautiful vineyards. 5 I made gardens and parks, filling them with all kinds of fruit trees. 6 I built reservoirs to collect the water to irrigate my many flourishing groves. 7 I bought slaves, both men and women, and others were born into my household. I also owned large herds and flocks, more than any of the kings who had lived in Jerusalem before me. 8 I collected great sums of silver and gold, the treasure of many kings and provinces. I hired wonderful singers, both men and women, and had many beautiful concubines. I had everything a man could desire!
9 So I became greater than all who had lived in Jerusalem before me, and my wisdom never failed me. 10 Anything I wanted, I would take. I denied myself no pleasure. I even found great pleasure in hard work, a reward for all my labors. 11 But as I looked at everything I had worked so hard to accomplish, it was all so meaningless—like chasing the wind. There was nothing really worthwhile anywhere.
In today's God's Story scripture, what does Solomon teach us about his search for life's meaning?
Here's some insight from the study notes in Tyndale's LIFE APPLICATION STUDY BIBLE:
2:11 Solomon summarized his many attempts at finding life's meaning as "chasing the wind." We feel the wind as it passes, but we can't catch hold of it or keep it. In all our accomplishments, even the big ones, our good feelings are only temporary. Security and self-worth are found, not in these accomplishments, but far beyond them in the love of God. Think about what you consider worthwhile - where you place your time, energy, and money. Will you one day look back and decide that you too, were "chasing the wind'?
Look again at Tom Brady's statement: "God, it's got to be more than this. I mean this isn't, this can't be what it's all cracked up to be.”
Solomon, Tom Brady, you, me....we have something in common - without the love of God changing our lives, life is meaningless.
How can we connect today's God's Story scripture to our lives?
- Read today's passage of scripture again, aloud. Let God's Spirit use His Word to challenge, change, and encourage you.
- Write down at least three things you do that are probably robbing you of some of the richness of life that God wants you to experience through His presence in you.
- Every morning for one month, start your day by thanking God that this day will be meaningful because He loves you and has a purpose for you.
How can we connect today's story and God's Story scripture and our story to others?
- Pray that God will get use His presence and the stories of His followers to connect with Tom Brady so that he will find the answer to his search for life's meaning in a relationship with Jesus Christ.
- Use the NFL playoffs this weekend (even if you're not a fan) to talk about today's story about Brady's search for life's meaning. It could make the Patriots' game more interesting if they are blowing out Jacksonville!
- August 2008 [19]
- July 2008 [22]
- June 2008 [13]
- May 2008 [20]
- April 2008 [22]
- March 2008 [21]
- February 2008 [19]
- January 2008 [20]
- December 2007 [19]
- November 2007 [16]
- October 2007 [20]
- September 2007 [18]
- August 2007 [12]
- July 2007 [12]
- June 2007 [10]
- May 2007 [12]
- April 2007 [10]
- March 2007 [11]
- February 2007 [14]
- January 2007 [7]
- December 2006 [4]
- November 2006 [13]
- October 2006 [17]
- September 2006 [11]
- August 2006 [16]
- July 2006 [11]
- June 2006 [3]
