To be a rung

Watched the movie The Express over the weekend. I highly recommend it. It’s about the 1959 Syracuse University College Football National Champions and more specifically the first ever African American winner of the Heisman Trophy, Ernie Davis aka The Express.

Mr. Davis, following in the footsteps of maybe the best running back to ever play football, Jim Brown, at Syracuse and was also drafted by the Cleveland Browns to share the backfield with Jim Brown yet he was never to play a single down for this NFL franchise. Ernie Davis was diagnosed with Leukemia and died at the age of 23.

Many would look at Mr. Davis’ life only to be saddened by the unrealized potential, and the seemingly unfairness of contracting a deadly disease at such a young age. Yet, what I was struck by as I watched the extras was that this kid left a tremendous impact on the lives left in his wake. Even Jim Brown, known for his cockiness, held a reverence for the friendship he had with this young man. Floyd Little, appearing with other Hall of Fame nominees (watch the video at the end of the link as Mr. Little is introduced – a tremendous man) at the Super Bowl coin toss, still becomes emotional when he recounts the words that he exchanged with Ernie when Ernie recruited him as his replacement at Syracuse.

Last week I posted a post by Mark Batterson asking if this could be the day that Jesus returns. Today I’m asking what if it is the last day you are around? Who is left in your wake? Who is testifying in ten years about your goodness? Who becomes a Hall of Famer by standing on your back?

Here’s the question for me, “Am I willing to be a rung in the ladder to let others climb higher?” I think Ernie’s greatest testimony is that he was, and because of that I think he was great.