Walter Payton

Chicago just won the NFC championship and will go to the Super Bowl. I’ve had a soft spot in my heart for the Bears (or da Bears) for about over 20 years. The soft spot was created by one man. That man was Walter Payton who played for the Bears between 1975 and 1987. His durability and accomplishments were enough to make him a natural for the football hall of fame. His accomplishments are not why I’ll always stop what I’m doing to watch an old film of Walter Payton whose nick name is “Sweetness”. What makes me stop and watch him was his attitude on the field. First, he would do whatever was needed on the field. He was a running back but he also served as blocker, receiver, emergency punter, and quarterback. Secondly, he played with all his heart. He said, “I want to be remembered as the guy who gave his all whenever he was on the field.” Thirdly, he met the end of the play head on. When he had run out of time and room and was going to be tackled, he didn’t turn away from the defensive player. On the contrary, he turned into the defensive player and would meet his tackler on the field. He died from a rare liver disease. He didn’t turn and run there either. He needed a transplant but he wouldn’t use his fame to get a special place on the transplant list because he knew that meant someone else would die.

Football players have often found Walter Payton to be an inspiring player. I pray that we could find ways to bring the attitudes that Payton brought to the football field to our field of spiritual battle.

1) He was willing to do whatever was needed as long as he was involved. Can we say to God with all our hearts that, “For a day in your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness. For the LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD bestows favor and honor. No good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly. O LORD of hosts, blessed is the one who trusts in you!” (Psalm 84:10-12).

2) He played with all his heart. Can we say to God that we obey when He says, “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.” (Deuteronomy 6:4-7).

3) He didn’t turn aside when he was face to face with his opponent. Can you say to God that you hear Him and believe so that you are “not frightened in anything by your opponents. This is a clear sign to them of their destruction, but of your salvation, and that from God. For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake” (Philippians 1:28-29).

I don’t know if the Bears will win the Super Bowl but there will be a DMSSC party at my house that night and maybe during the pre-game show I’ll get to watch some 22 year old video of someone who played the game with his whole heart.