Spirituality: Attitude makes all the difference

Dear friends,

Do you think the way that you approach your work makes a difference? It does to Kurt Warner. He's a Hall of Fame quarterback, a two-time league MVP, and a Super Bowl Champion. He set a Super Bowl record with 414 yards passing and a pair of touchdowns in leading the St. Louis Rams to their first championship title in Super Bowl XXXIV.

Kurt garnered a lot of fame on the field but it took a few years and an attitude change to make it happen. He began his career as an undrafted free agent with the Green Bay Packers. He failed to distinguish himself in training camp and was let go before the season started. For the next few years he floated between jobs in a grocery store and the Arena Football League.

I heard Warner speak at a recent men's conference. He shared his testimony. Looking back on this time in his life, he says that one thing was clear: As he grew in his faith, he began to excel in his career. Kurt was gifted with amazing skills and ability. As he worked his way through college and the early days of his career, he tried to get by on raw talent.

Just before he was cut by the Packers, he asked a friend for advice. He said he knew he was better than the other guys. He couldn't understand why the coach never gave him a shot. The friend leveled with him and told him the reason was obvious. He didn't take the game seriously. He never practiced hard and approached things half-heartedly.

Lindquist triple murder: Loved ones speak as the family's murderers are sentenced

Warner said that one day he was stocking shelves in the supermarket, when he suddenly got it. The words of Colossians 3:23 came to him. The apostle Paul writes, "Whatever you are doing, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters." That day he decided to be the best grocery worker he could be and his whole life began to change.

When Kurt got his opportunity with the St Louis Rams, he took that message to heart. He sat on the bench for most of the season but he practiced hard. When the starting quarterback went down with an injury during the next pre-season, he got the call. His dedication paid off. He made the most of it. That year he was not only the team's quarterback but the MVP as well.

Norwich Public School uniforms: School uniforms won't be required in Norwich Public Schools in the fall. Why the change?

The truth is that most of us live on the practice field of life. We may never get to perform under the bright lights that bring glory and honor our way. Regardless, we should give our best to every situation we find ourselves in. People are watching. It is not about us. It is about the God who sends us into the world.

As believers, we have the opportunity to demonstrate to the world what Jesus might look like were He to walk the earth today. That is what it means to be a follower of Christ. Those who will never enter the door of a church, or read a Bible, or hear a sermon, can still know Jesus by watching us! Believe me! If you say you belong to Christ, they will be watching.

People will be watching how we respond to adversity. They will be looking to see how we treat others. They will listen to what we say but more importantly, they will be watching what we do. I like Warner's approach. It is one we can all adopt. He is the first to admit he isn't perfect, but he offers every day to the Lord. Then he goes out and gives God his best.

God bless! See you in church. Cal

The Rev. Cal Lord is the pastor of Central Baptist Church of Westerly. Reach him at calstigers@gmail.com.

This article originally appeared on The Bulletin: Spirituality: Attitude makes all the difference