When I was younger, I wanted to be a superhero. I wanted to fly like Superman. I wanted to have spidey sense like Spider-Man. I wanted to be able to heal like Captain America. I wanted to be like the Hulk for strength. I wanted to be like Waverider and have immortality and invisibility.
Or to be like Batman and have a cool car and weapons. Or like Ironman and have a powerful suit that could do just about anything. Or to have a magic ring like Green Lantern.
What’s my point, you ask? I don’t know except that I always felt like I was destined to be something more than I am. Maybe it’s me wishing people would notice me. Maybe I am wishing for too much.
But here I am. Much older than when I dreamed of being a superhero. In fact, much older than I remember dreaming at all. Life gets busy, time seems to become less, twenty four hours now seems like twenty. Do they have a superhero that has power to stop time? The Flash, yes, I could be fast and slow down time.
But unless I get bit by a spider or struck by lightning or some other strange mutant thing happens, I will have to still be me.
Then, the other day, the older me was thinking. I can be a superhero and I don’t need any super powers or cool suits or cars to be a superhero.
All I have to be is more human. Be more kind. Be more helpful. Be more forgiving. Be more courageous. Be more ethical and moral. Be more responsible and respectful. Be more tolerant. Give more than I take.
Let my words build people up instead of tearing them down.
I can be the Unifier.
But you also can be the Unifier.
Yes, I can do all of those things.
We all can do all of those things.
Yes, we can all work together and together we can be the Unifiers.
Let’s be one. All of us together as one to make this world a better place. Let’s stop tearing each other apart and let all of us become one, become the Unifiers.
What a great first weekend of college football. The Buckeyes looked like they might be better than last years team. You know, the team that had a record number of NFL draft picks. It is early. We will see how how the rest of the season goes.
It was great to see the upsets. Houston beating Oklahoma. Texas A&M beating UCLA in overtime. Wisconsin beating LSU. Clemson almost losing to Auburn. Tennessee almost losing to Appalachian State. South Alabama beating Mississippi State. Western Michigan upsetting Northwestern. Richmond upsetting Virginia.
Texas upset Notre Dame on Sunday night. Texas was my first choice of schools to go to but out of state tuition was/is too expensive so I became a Buckeye instead.
Most of the SEC struggling to win or lost. Seven SEC teams losing in week 1.
Alabama losing. Oh yeah, that was just a dream. They looked unbeatable , but they said that two years ago also.
All these great games, close games, upsets, etc…..
But sometimes it’s more than a game.
James Conner, star running back for Pittsburgh, coming back from Hodgkins Lymphona cancer. He broke Tony Dorsett’s records that had stood for 38 years. He was invincible…until he wasn’t. He played in the first game in 2015 then was out the rest of the year battling for his life. You can read his story in his own words here : http://www.theplayerstribune.com/james-conner-pittsburgh-college-football-cancer/
photo credit : James Conner
Travis Rudolph, Florida State wide receiver, was visiting a school and saw a boy eating alone. He sat down and joined him for lunch. The boy, Bo Paske, has autism and often eats lunch by himself. Travis says he didn’t think it was that big of a deal. We are all the same and one man can make a difference. You can read the full article here: http://mobile.nytimes.com/2016/09/02/us/photo-of-fsu-football-star-sitting-with-boy-eating-alone-at-florida-school-charms-internet.htmlnyskyz.com.
photo credit : Michael Halligan, Associated Press.
Sarah Hill, the wife of Weber State’s head coach Jay. She was diagnosed with Hodgkins Lymphoma. Weber State football players, coaches, family and friends shaved their heads in support. At the end of each practice they chant How strong are we? Strong like Sara. You can read the story here : http://www.sltrib.com/sports/4275503-155/weber-state-football-wildcats-rally-around
photo credit Leah Hogsten , Salt Lake Tribune
The one that really brought a tear to my eye is Nebraska. On July 23rd, they lost their senior punter Sam Foltz in a car accident. Michigan State punter Mike Sadler also passed away in the accident. On Nebraska’s first punt of the game they only sent out 10 players, the punter didn’t go out. They took a delay of game which the opposing team, Fresno State, respectfully declined. Tell me you don’t get goose bumps watching this video. http://www.ncaa.com/news/football/article/2016-09-03/nebraska-football-honors-sam-foltz-lines-10-men-first-punt?cid=ncaafbsocial_fb_sf35087046
Lions by Skillet –
Cheer You On by Jordan Feliz –
We March On by Hillary Scott and The Scott Family –
My God, My Music, My Life 