An Inspiring Witness

The Colts’ 17-13 JV win over Arizona was meaningless in the Super Bowl hunt, but for the mostly backup players on the field, it meant a great deal. Hunter the Punter eloquently describes the sentiment:

“Coach Dungy has a heart that beats in all these players,” punter Hunter Smith said. “This game is about money and entertainment and all those things, but every once in a while, you come across a special person. His heart comes through in every part of his life. And now I see it coming through in us.”

That Dungy is a man of faith is well-known, and it is the foundation of the near-universal respect he garners. But it is in times of trouble that one’s faith truly becomes both a source of sustaining strength and an inspiring witness. Tony Dungy’s faith exemplifies both:

“There’s a story in the Bible,” Dungy said, speaking to a small group of reporters after his news conference. “David’s son is sick, and they’re praying for him. The whole time, he won’t eat, won’t do anything. The son ends up dying. What David says, basically, is ‘I’ve got to go to temple and worship. I’ve got to get back to work.’

“Everybody asked him how he could do that. And he said, ‘Now that my son is in heaven, there’s nothing I can do.’ As Christians, we believe the future is in God’s hands, and we have eternal life.

“. . . More than anything, I had to make a statement that, if I’m a Christian, if I feel like God is in control of my future, I’ve got to move on, as tough as it is. My wife (Lauren) and I discussed it and (returning Thursday) was something we felt was necessary. We’re still healing, but it’s important to move forward.”

At one point, he was asked how sorely his faith was tested.

He took a long pause.

“You always have those questions,” Dungy said. “But I never felt like God dealt us a bad hand. I’ve heard from so many people and we’re not the only ones who experienced the death of a child. . . . The Lord has a good plan for your wife and family, even if it doesn’t seem like it now.”

Amen.