Striving for Real Victory

Meaningful impact, Joe Kennedy, and what we should actually be watching for at Super Bowl LIX

What does it take to be victorious when it matters most?

That’s the question being asked of those gathered in the locker rooms of the Philadelphia Eagles and the Kansas City Chiefs this week. Most analysts and the experts on TV will suggest the difference makers are things like elite quarterback play, strategic coaching and game management, impenetrable defensive lines, and special teams excellence.

And while this weekend’s Super Bowl is sure to include much of the above, with one team ultimately bathing their coach in Gatorade, lifting high the Lombardi trophy, and stating proudly their intentions to go to Disneyworld, I think there is a much more important victory that we should be seeking. Namely, how do we accomplish something so transformationally important that it will endure decades after the confetti has been swept up?

Well in sports and in life, it’s usually the stuff that barely gets noticed, that we did not expect, and even the things we may not want that have the power to most positively transform our lives and spark real success. Just ask Joe Kennedy.

A veteran of the United States Marine Corps, with 18 years of service under his belt, Joe returned to his hometown in Washington state in 2008 to start life’s next chapter. When the local public high school offered him a job as a football coach, he initially passed on it. He already had a lot on his plate and knew from his experience in the Marines that leading a team effectively was a job that took everything you had. Ultimately, though, Joe recognized the difference he could make in the lives of young people and he joined the coaching staff as an assistant coach.

For eight years, Joe showed up fully at every practice to inspire the players. He motivated his team when their mental game was lacking, guided them through success and struggle and was there to push them when more was required or simply love them when encouragement was needed.

And for eight years, at the end of every game, Joe strolled to midfield, removed his hat, knelt down, and quietly gave thanks for the blessings in his life. A small gesture unnoticed by most on his team, as well as the vast majority of their opponents.

This seemingly insignificant gesture, however, eventually earned him a suspension. Then cost him his job. Then caused him to lose friends, led to profound struggles for his family, and to hate mail arriving from around the community and around the country.

As opposition to his actions grew, Joe could have offered to simply stop offering that prayer of gratitude after each game. In stopping, the struggles he faced would end, he’d get his coaching job back, and his life would return to normal.

But for Joe, his right to freely worship- and just as importantly, other individual’s rights to not be forced to worship- was a victory worth fighting for. And what Joe initially intended as a personal reflection of gratitude quickly became a publicly divisive issue resulting in a years-long legal battle that went all the way to the United States Supreme Court, before a ruling eventually stated that Joe was within his first amendment rights to take a knee at midfield.

My friends, a coach revealed quietly and humbly to his community and to the nation he served, that sometimes the quietest efforts can make the biggest impact.

This weekend you’ll watch the spectacle that is the Super Bowl. You’ll enjoy the national anthem, the coin flip, the kickoff, the turning points, the Gatorade bath and the trophy presentation.

But recognize that as important as the ad revenue for the network, the social media growth for the various players, and the right to lift high the trophy for one team is, ultimately those victories will fade.

In your life, strive to fight for the victories that are far less showcased, far more meaningful and far more enduring. They aren’t always easy, but they are worth the fight.

Just ask Joe Kennedy.

Today is your day.

Live Inspired.

I became more familiar with the story of Joe Kennedy during my most recent Live Inspired Podcast episode with Eric Close, the actor who portrays Joe in the recently released film Average Joe. Throughout an illustrious Hollywood career, Eric has stayed true to his core values of faith, family, and purpose. Join us as he opens up about his struggles with anxiety, the wisdom he’s gained from Hollywood icons like Clint Eastwood, and his experience portraying a man whose simple act of prayer sparked national controversy. Listen here!