People of Hope

America’s annual “Superbowl” game is preceded by a gala breakfast, attended by a “Who’s Who” of football celebrities. Several years ago, a pastor who was present at the breakfast gave a report on the event to his congregation. It read, in part, as follows:

“The highlight for me was not meeting all those football celebrities. Rather, it was hearing a little speech on faith, delivered by Chris Carter, an All-American Ohio State University graduate and an All-Pro wide receiver on the Minnesota Vikings team. This is what Chris Carter said:

“At every stage of my life, I’ve always been the best football player. I’ve always been the best wherever I went, whether it was elementary school, junior high, high school, college, and even in the pros. But do you know what was the turning point in my life? It was when I was cut by the Philadelphia Eagles football team.”

When he spoke that word, cut, Chris Carter’s voice cracked and he…