Andrew Luck Speaks for Humanity

“It’s taken the joy out of the game.”

 

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Andrew Luck is expressing a reality for all people. Pain can do that to us. Pain can take the joy, whether it’s in the game of football, relationships, a job, or daily living.

I get that. No professional athlete abilities, but I was a decent high school athlete. (As a caveat, my second cousin John Neidert played for the Jets and Joe Namath in the Super Bowl). I set several school track records (in the 70s), played varsity basketball, and varsity football as a starter.

In college, I thought track might be my sport, but almost immediately began dealing with leg injuries. Lots of time soaking, wrapping, flexing before every practice, let alone meet days. Finally, a visit to a team surgeon determined the extent of knee surgery needed to really get back my game. So, I get Andrew’s mindset, even in a miniscule way. The “joy went out of the game.” (BTW, I still deal with that knee thing forty-ish years later).

Athletics, however, are not the only place where the joy seeps out. What about those with chronic illness? There are the exceptions, for sure, but many people loose daily life’s joy from pain. Or what about a toxic relationship, whether marriage or friends. There can be pain that saps the joy with each interaction. Work, too, is a place where enough pain causes us to forfeit joy for what might even be our chosen livelihood. We continue going to our daily employ, like robots, but the joy and passion left long ago.

The late Stephen Covey asked how long will one endure pain before they say “enough” and make the appropriate decision. Pain can be physical. We often associate it there. Yet the category is large: mental, emotional, relational, moral, spiritual. So when in life have we suffered enough of our brand of pain to make the appropriate decision?

Andrew Luck is going to be criticized a lot in the coming days. Analysists are going to be at both ends of the spectrum about his decision. “Talking heads” are going to beat this up ad infinitum (and ad nauseum).  Those with money in the sport are going to be angry. Fans are going to tag him with whatever they believe about professional athletes. The reactions will be broad and varied.

But Andrew Luck is being forthright and honest as a human being. Sometimes, the pain (no matter the category; no matter YOUR category) is so much it “takes the joy out.” Thanks, Andrew, for knowing that reality and giving it voice