What's up Fam! It's Taurus coming back at you again with another episode at The Hope Spot--the Spot for your motivation and inspiration to get you to your destination. Look, I don't know here you're trying to go or what you’re trying to do. But if you trying to LIVE FIRED UP! THIS is the spot for you!!!!
Alright, so check it.
The Super Bowl is behind us. But man, I keep hearing all this talk about Tom Brady being the greatest quarterback of all time. Move over Terry Bradshaw, get out the way Joe Montana, and watch out Brett Favre because there’s a new sheriff in town!!!! Make way for Tom Brady. Let me be honest with you, I don't even like the Patriots, and I was rooting for ATL, but you I don’t argue with rings. I mean the dude does have 5 Super Bowl rings. AND. The dude does have 4 Super Bowl MVPs.
But here's the problem! While everybody is still talking about Tom Brady, and heaping all the praise and all the credit upon him, ain't nobody talking about his blockers. They don't get the primetime interviews after the game. No shoe deals or TV commercials. But it's those offensive linemen who were blocking for Tom Brady for all those championship years who are as much responsible for those rings as Brady is.
So you probably like, man what you talking about some “offensive linemen” for? Good question. I’m glad you asked.
The offensive linemen have one job—to block! They are the ones who put a hedge of protection in front of him and around Tom Brady long enough for him to do his thing. They’re the ones that are taking the blows that should have been hitting Tom Brady. They stood before him and took the pressure off of him. They got pushed around and shoved, instead of Tom Brady! And again, this allowed him to be able to do what he did at the highest level! It was because of the people who stood before Tom Brady, blocking for him, that we are able to say that Tom Brady is the greatest football player of all time.
Here’s the first thing I want you to get today.
Life Lesson 1: Don't Forget Your Blockers!
As I reflect on Black History Month, I can’t help but give a shout out to all the people whose been blocking for me. I hope you are catching my point here.
Listen, I played quarterback in little league football, middle school, and my freshman year in high school. One thing I know for sure is that if you don't have any blocking, it doesn’t matter how fast you run, how accurate you can throw, or how much of a cannon your arm is, you will never be able to do what you do without linemen blocking for you. So don't forget your blockers. In case you didn't know it, when Dr. Martin Luther King put his life on the line so that all people can enjoy the civil rights of America, he was blocking for you. Don't forget Rosa Parks! When she refused to go to the back of the buss, she was blocking for you! Don't Forget Harriet Tubman! When she courageously kept going back, she was blocking me you. Don't forget Frederick Douglas! When he taught himself to read, he was blocking for you! Don't forget Barak and Michelle Obama! When they modeled grace, dignity, love, they were blocking for you! Don't forget that teacher who didn't give up on you or that coach who pushed your game to the next level.
Life Lesson 2: Start Blocking For Somebody
There's a young man, there's a young lady, in your neighborhood, in your church, in your school, in your family that's in need of you to start blocking for them. You can start with your own children. Start blocking for them by mentoring. Start blocking by encouraging words and investing your time and energy into them. Your blocking will put a hedge of protection before them and around them and it will inspire them to do their best.
I believe one of the best ways to block for someone is to pray for them every day. Before I gave my life to God I was a party animal. I remember one night coming home drunk and high. It was like 2 o’clock in the morning and I was crawling through the living room window trying to sneak in the house. Once I got inside, I saw a body on the floor lying prostrate. It was my brother and he was praying for me. He was blocking for me.
I can tell you that the blessing is in the blocking. And if you consider yourself a Christian then you ought to be excited about blocking for someone since that is exactly what Christ has done for us. He blocked the nails that should have gone into our hands. He blocked the cross that should have been placed on our backs. "He was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins. He was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so we could be healed" (Isaiah 53:5). Jesus Christ was the greatest Offensive Lineman ever!!! And He is looking for some blockers.
Who are you blocking for?
Question:
Who would you shout out for blocking for you and why?
What are you currently doing or would like to do in order to block for someone else?