Tim Tebow with Nathan Whitaker, Through My Eyes (New York: HarperCollins, 2011), pp. ix–x:
Since I first started playing high school football, a lot has been written about me. Some true, some not so true. Some positive, some not so positive. And some of it claiming to even know my mind-set and motivation.
It’s not always the easiest thing to be the center of so much spilled ink. You read glowing things, and it doesn’t feel deserved. You read things that are critical, and it cuts you to the bone. It’s because of both those extremes of others’ opinions that I felt it the natural thing to do to tell my story, written from my perspective. . . .
In addition, the sheer amount that has been written about me also seems to indicate that, for whatever reason, a great number of people have a significant interest in me. In some respects that is very flattering. I’d guess that any one of us would be flattered by that level of interest. However, my parents always told me, from an early age, that we all have the ability to influence others, whether through our words or actions, or both. They always added that, besides possessing the ability, we also have the responsibility to use it in a positive, encouraging, and uplifting way—a platform. Who knows? Maybe my platform will be the same in five years; maybe not. One thing I’m confident of is that the Lord already knows the answer to that, and He has a plan for it all. That is something I’ve learned to have the utmost assurance of and faith in—His daily, weekly, monthly, total and eternal plan for our lives.
Therefore I have learned that, though God is in control of the big picture, I am responsible for how I use my platform, whatever its size—at this moment in time—to influence others. Or whatever my age. Wherever I am, or no matter what is going on in my life at any time. I have a platform that He can use for His good purposes and perhaps even the good of others—today.
Related:
- my thoughts on Tebow’s autobiography
- Last night NFL Network played some clips of Tim Tebow with his microphone on during last Sunday’s game: part 1 | part 2
Update: The video is on YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mp_noHHOk7A
I’m watching this kid closely, too. And praying for him. He has a youthful enthusiasm I used to have. It feels at times like life has chewed me up and spit me out, and I miss that youthful joy, excitement, and confidence. Perhaps he’s a little naive, a little immature. But I pray daily that as he gains maturity and life experience, he never loses that enthusiasm and confidence.
Agreed.
And I love those two videos I link to at the end of the post. Some highlights:
1. After Brian Urlacher tackles Tim, Tim says, “Good play, Brian.” How can you not like a guy with that attitude?
2. After the Bears fumble in OT, he sits there calmly while his teammate hyperventilates. Then he calmly walks on the field singing, “He came from heaven to earth . . . .”
3. The best part, I think, is his prayer after the Broncos lost the onside kick at the end of the fourth quarter: “No matter what, win or lose, Lord, give me the strength to honor you.” Exactly right.
I stayed up to watch it on the NFL channel last night and rewatched the clips from your links this morning. I’m praying for his protection, and not just physically.
The more I learn about him, the more impressed I am by him.
He doesn’t seem to buy into the Tebowmania.
The temptations he has faced and will faced must be enormous.
Not all the talk about Tebow is talk about Christ – that’s for sure. But what’s also for sure is that he probably has more people talking about Christ than anyone else in America right now.