Conversations That Count

“He who dares not offend cannot be honest.”

-- Thomas Paine, U.S. Founding Father and author of Common Sense

Long before Tony Dungy became a renowned NFL football coach, he was an undrafted walk-on with the Pittsburgh Steelers.  He survived his first season, but going into his second season, he got very sick and started to despair over likelihood of keeping his spot on the team.  Five time Pro Bowl safety, Donnie Shell, pulled him aside and said, “Tony, you claim to put God first and to trust Him with your life, but as soon as something goes wrong, you panic and act as though everything depends on you making this team.”

Tony Dungy says that comment was a turning point in his life because it taught him what it means to put God first and trust Him with your life. That message is important, but what is also important, is the idea that Donnie Shell had the courage to have that conversation in the first place.

It’s often uncomfortable to talk with others about trusting God, but that is exactly what we need to do for each other. There are probably people in your life right now who are despairing over something.  Perhaps all they need is for someone like you to have a similar conversation with them.