August/September 2008 Lovie Smith
To put it simply, church was not optional as a kid—at least not according to my mother. Growing up in the small town of Big Sandy, Texas, she had us going to church all the time, Sunday nights and Wednesdays. I didn’t mind, though, because I always enjoyed playing games with my friends when church was over.
Football in Texas can be described in the exact same way: not optional. And growing up I spent a lot of time on the football field helping the Big Sandy Wildcats to three consecutive state championships (1973-75), earning all-state honors as an end and linebacker each of those years.
But even before my days as a high school state champion I was blessed to learn that these two “requirements” in my life really could be intertwined.
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Lovie Smith |
Born: May 8, 1958
Hometown: Big Sandy, Texas
College: University of Tulsa
Personal: He and his wife, MaryAnne, have three sons: Mikal, Matthew and Miles.
Coaching Highlights:
2005 NFL Coach of the Year
2006 NFC Champions
2005, 2006 NFC North Division Champions |
When I was in junior high, I attended an FCA Clinic where I heard Baylor University’s quarterback, Neal Jeffrey, explain exactly what God meant to him. The very same guy my friends and I pretended to be in our backyards playing football was right in front of me talking about how God, not football, was the center of his life.
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“The very same guy my friends and I pretended to be in our backyards playing football was right in front of me talking about how God, not football, was the center of his life.” |
He spoke about being an athlete—the blood, sweat and pain that went into every practice and game, and how he could not be doing any of it without his Savior, Jesus Christ, right by his side. His relationship with God was not something that just happened on church days, but 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Later that day, when I wasn’t able to play flag football with the other guys because I had worn church clothes to the clinic, Neal himself let me borrow his shoes to play.
I was floored by the entire experience, and it opened my eyes to the fact that I could have a relationship with Christ and still be all I could be on the playing field. In Neal, there was a guy who so many people—kids and even adults—looked up to because of his athletic skills, but I got the chance to see him in a completely different light. I knew about his success on the field, but I was then able to respect him for his honesty, his confession of his faith and what he stood for—his reliance on God—and the fact that he took the time to get to know me.
Now years later, I tell people I have three goals for the Chicago Bears: to beat the Green Bay Packers, to win the NFC North Division and to win a World Championship. But more importantly, I tell them I have three goals for my life. The first goal is just having Jesus Christ as my Lord and personal Savior—having a personal relationship with God by being in His Word and getting to know Him more and more every day.
The second is to live a Christ-filled life on a daily basis. This can be hard in my profession. It is especially hard to be a Christian man when I have to tell young men that their dreams are over. But with Christ as my example, I am able to be fair and honest.
And lastly, I look forward to a goal that I cannot attain on my own, but one that has already been assured to me because of Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross: eternal life. I live in peace because my future is already secure. I am living my life for Jesus Christ and the eternal prize of Heaven, something no earthly win, trophy or championship will ever match. 
| Want a personal relationship with the One who created you? He sure desires one with you. And there is nothing in this world that can take the place of that relationship in your life. Not sports, not academics, not success, not money, not anything. Everything else will fall drastically short.
The good news is that you are only a prayer away from beginning to experience the greatest fulfillment of your life. Call out to Him and ask Him to be the Lord of your life and to fill the empty places of your soul. Try a prayer such as this:
“Heavenly Father, I come to You in humility. I have tried to fill the void in my life with many earthly and temporary things, but I realize now that You are the only remedy. You are the only source of true fulfillment. I pray now and ask that You would be the Lord of my life. I believe that Jesus died on the cross to pay the price for my sins, making this relationship even possible. Please come into my life and take it over; I surrender it all to You. In the name of Jesus I pray. Amen.” |
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