Bill Belichick in 2013 (Photo Courtesy: Seatacular/Flickr seatacular.com)
“He has saved us and called us to a holy life — not because of anything we have done but because of His own purpose and grace.” — 2 Timothy 1:9
Flourishing in Our Role
The New England Patriots and head coach Bill Belichick have built one of the greatest dynasties in NFL history. Their motto is simple yet powerful: Do your job.
One of the keys to the Patriots’ success is that every player on the roster understands and embraces his role. Everyone stays focused on their specific assignment, which allows New England to be the most detailed-oriented team in football. Players know what is expected of them and don’t try to do too much.
God gave us the roles we have in life for a reason. The jobs we have and people we interact with are not there by coincidence. We are called to faithfully fulfill the roles we’ve been assigned, honoring God in the process. No matter what we’re doing, we can approach tasks with enthusiasm and embrace them as part of God’s plan for us.
As humans, we have a tendency to look ahead to the next step — the big promotion, starting a family, or whatever it might be. When we concentrate too much on the future, we’re not as focused on the present. God wants us to be fully invested in the things we are doing right now!
We can look at every day as an opportunity to demonstrate the love of Christ by joyfully performing our roles to the best of our ability.
— Joshua Doering
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Tennis world No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz had a 2025 season for the ages. In 11 months, he amassed two Grand Slam titles, three Masters 1000 titles, three ATP 500 titles, reached 10 finals in his last 11 events, and produced an astonishing 71-9 record on the year. He also made history by becoming the first player born in the 2000s to end a season with more than 12,000 ranking points.
At just 22 years old, it’s safe to say that this young man is putting together a career so far that’s the stuff legends are made of. Anyone who’s watched his matches knows that the sky is truly the limit on his potential, and he’s just getting started. Which, considering how good he already is (sitting at 26 total titles, including seven Grand Slams), is scary.
But he recently revealed a deep insight when asked in an interview what scares him the most. Was it fame? Not reaching his goals? Losing a heartbreaking match? Not ending with the most majors in history? None of those, he said. Instead, it was “living a life I don’t want to live. Being stuck in a loop, living a life doing something I don’t really want to do.”
Above all of the things that could scare him the most, it was living a life he wasn’t meant for — living out a story that isn’t his own. Perhaps that’s why it has bothered him so much when reporters try to compare him to other greats in the sport, past or present. He just wants to live out his own story and do it well.
If we’re honest, how many of us feel pressure to live out a story that’s not our own? I think probably most. It’s so easy to get caught up in trying to be somebody we’re not, in order to fit in, succeed and advance. Our culture is built on imitation and comparison, forcing us to live lives that look a certain way so that we rise up the corporate or athletic ladder and reach certain levels of set achievement. Things like social media only make this pressure more accessible and appealing.
But the truth is, God didn’t create us to live our lives centered around imitating others; He made us to be imitators of Him. He formed us in His own image and has plans and purposes for us that are unique to each and every one of us. He doesn’t want us copying somebody else’s blueprint.
See, God loves variety. If He wanted us all to look and act and be the same, He would’ve designed our world that way. But He didn’t. He delights in the individuality each of us expresses as special creations of His. We are reflective of His creativity and variety.
So yes, it should scare us to go chasing a life that’s not the one designed for us and being stuck in a loop doing something we weren’t meant for. Because, in the end, God isn’t about us fitting in. He’s about us being the difference.
Baltimore Ravens defensive end Calais Campbell, Aug. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)
When Calais Campbell was presented with the Bart Starr Award in 2019, he thanked his mother, Nateal, for teaching him and his siblings about the Lord.
“Mom, I just appreciate you making sure that we knew Jesus,” he said. “I remember being a little kid and being scared of the dark, or whatever, my mom just told me, ‘Nothing can ever happen to you as long as you’re covered in the blood of Jesus.’ That was real and it’s been with me ever since.”
This week, the longtime NFL veteran spoke with the media for the first time since his mother was murdered on June 30. His brother, Ciarre Campbell, was arrested and charged for the crime. Understandably, the past couple of months have been “pretty tough,” Calais said, as his family navigates the emotions of the tragedy.
“We appreciate all the love and support and prayers that have come from all over the NFL community (and) all the fan bases,” Campbell told reporters. “Continue praying for us because we need it.”
A six-time Pro Bowl defensive lineman, Campbell turns 40 in September and is entering his 19th NFL season after signing with the Baltimore Ravens on a one-year contract. He was asked this week if he considered skipping this season to deal with the tragedy, but instead he decided to play and said this will most likely be his final season.
“I love the game of football a lot. It’s a place (that) brings me joy,” Campbell told reporters. “The training was adjusted a little bit. It was a little harder to train. … I work really hard (and) I feel really good where I’m at. Practices have been going well. I really like where I’m at right now. The coaches did a really good job of letting me ease in and get myself where I need to be.”
The Bart Starr Award is presented annually by Athletes In Action at the Super Bowl Breakfast to “the NFL player who best exemplifies outstanding character and leadership in the home, on the field and in the community.” Campbell was recognized as the winner in 2019 for his community work through running the CRC Foundation, named after his late father, Charles Richard Campbell. The organization’s mission is to teach critical life skills to young people. Through sports, creative talents, vocational skills, financial skills and quality health and nutrition, the CRC Foundation helps young people develop into empowered and self-aware leaders for the future.
In addition to thanking his mother that day, Campbell also thanked his father, who died when Campbell was 17 and taught his son about the value of integrity.
“I believe that integrity really is having faith because a lot of times, people really get in trouble when they start trying to do things for themselves, they feel like they’re missing out on their blessings so they start trying to cut corners and do things to get ahead,” Campbell told the Super Bowl Breakfast audience. “And you lose your integrity and it really just crumbles your foundation.
“So for me, I think that integrity really is just having faith that if you keep doing the little things right and keep working hard and take your time and doing things with love and passion and hope, good things will happen when it’s your time.”
The Bart Starr Award held special significance for him because of the role AIA played in his faith journey during his time in college at Miami.
“For a tall, 6-8, gangly freshman coming all the way across the country from Denver, Colorado, Athletes in Action was at the school. I started going to everywhere they were holding meetings and found myself a home,” Campbell told the 1,400 attendees when accepting the award. “Growing up, my mom made sure that we understood and knew Jesus, and that was a big deal too. You go to college, you’re on your own for the first time, you don’t have your parents to take you to church or nobody to tell you what to do. You have to make a decision for yourself.
“I was trying to find my way and Athletes in Action being there really gave me an opportunity. I don’t even know how many people they affect, but I know it’s a whole lot. I’m just honored to be here and accept the award.”
His work with the CRC Foundation also led to him being named the 2019 Walter Payton Man of the Year, arguably the most prestigious character-related award in the NFL, given to a player who exhibits commitment to philanthropy and community impact as well as excellence on the field.
“My goal when I give back is to inspire people, to encourage people to believe that dreams are achievable if you put the work in,” Campbell said at the NFL Honors that year. “Everybody, and I mean everybody, can give back. Wherever you are in your life, it doesn’t matter where you are in your life, but reach back and help someone. It’s our duty to help our neighbors. Even if you can only give five minutes to someone in need, give it to them. That one-on-one quality time, that little bit of extra time can make a world of difference. Those five minutes can change a life.”
In his present time of difficulty, Campbell is experiencing the impact of others’ prayers and support.
I have never been a power hitter, but rather a speedster. My only home run was a fake bunt that tricked the pitcher to throw an easy pitch for me to hit an inside-the-park homer, largely due to my speed and deception.
On a scorching summer day with minimal and mild wind, my friends and I played a pickup game of Home Run Derby on the empty high school softball field. Because of my batting capabilities, I played outfield most of the game and rarely got a chance to swing a bat.
I know it sounds silly, but at that moment, my only prayer was just to hit one home run.
Let’s first acknowledge that God is not Aladdin’s genie, who grants every wish we make. God is a wonderful Heavenly Father who responds (Hebrews 4:16) to our prayers with 1) “yes” (blessings), 2) “no” (redirection, not rejection) and 3) “not yet” (to raise us as healthy and holy children of God). Sometimes, God says no or not yet due to unconfessed sin (Isaiah 59:2), having different plans for us (Isaiah 55:8-9), our doubt (James 1:6-7), or our selfish motives (James 4:3).
God did answer my prayer that day. It was my last at-bat of the day, and I hit my usual base hit fly ball. However, a sudden wind came out of nowhere on this mild and minimal wind day, and gave my baseball just enough oomph to carry it over the wall. Can you imagine the reactions of both me and my friends? To this day, this was my first and only out-of-the-park homer I ever hit, thanks to that perfectly timed gust of wind.
I still remember the lesson I learned that day: If it’s important to me, it’s important to God; no prayer is too small for Him (Matthew 7:11; Luke 12:30-32). After all, God loves us more in one second than the entire world could in a thousand lifetimes. As the Bible says, “He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all — how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?” (Romans 8:32).
Anthony Davis (center) shares a laugh with Deron Williams (left) and Kevin Love on the bench during a game against Nigeria at the London Olympics, Aug. 2, 2012. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
“But while they were gone to buy oil, the bridegroom came. Then those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was locked.” — Matthew 25:10 (NLT)
NBA superstar Anthony Davis hadn’t played a minute of pro basketball when he was added to the Team USA roster for the 2012 London Olympics. Surrounded by all-time greats like Kobe Bryant, Kevin Durant and LeBron James, Davis was just a starstruck 19-year-old kid drafted a month before.
Davis didn’t play much for Team USA during its trek to the gold medal, but during a blowout victory against Nigeria, his number was called. This was his chance!
But as Davis ran to the scorer’s table, he realized something.
“I was just so happy to be around all these guys, all these future Hall of Famers,” he said via NBC Sports in 2020, “that I forgot to put my jersey on before the game.”
The moment had finally arrived, but Davis wasn’t ready for it. He hadn’t adequately prepared, by neglecting to simply put on his jersey, and the opportunity passed.
Jesus told a story in the Bible about the dangers of not being ready for a big moment, known as the parable of the 10 bridesmaids in Matthew 25:1-13.
In the story, the bridesmaids are waiting for the big moment — the arrival of the bridegroom. But they didn’t know exactly when he’d come. Five of them were ready, because they had brought enough oil for their lamps, but five were not because they ran out of oil. So when the bridegroom finally did come, the five who were ready joyously accompanied him to the wedding. The five who weren’t missed his arrival and were locked out.
Jesus is the bridegroom, we are the bridesmaids, and Heaven is the wedding itself. We know Jesus will return and His people will be ushered into the presence of God for all eternity, but we don’t know when this will happen. The lesson of the parable is that we need to be spiritually ready — at all times — for Christ’s return.
Spiritual readiness doesn’t just mean agreeing intellectually with the truth of Christianity. It means talking to Jesus, listening to Him, and being obedient to His Word. It means worshiping Him with your whole heart, serving Him and His people with joy, and doing your best at whatever it is He’s called you to do. Don’t wait until “life slows down a little” to get serious about your relationship with Christ.
When He calls your number, will you be ready to check into the game? When that glorious moment of His return is finally here, what will He find you doing?
