Second Chances

A few of years ago, Michael Vick, an all-pro quarterback in the NFL, was sentenced to jail for his responsibility in running a dog-fighting gambling ring. Regardless of your opinion on this, he had the world at his fingertips, and flushed it down the drain for an unlikely reason. He served his jail sentence, was released from prison, and was given a second chance by the Philadelphia Eagles to restart his career, for a much much cheaper salary than he once had. For the first year of his comeback, he served as a back-up quarterback, playing every once in a while for a down or two. Then, in his second season, he was given the chance to be a starting quarterback when the once full time starter went down with an injury. At this moment, opportunity was knocking at the door for him. With bankruptcy now a part of his life, this was his chance to prove that he can still be the athlete he once was. As many of you probably know, Vick seized the moment, played better than he had ever played before, and just recently signed his second $100 million contract of his career after proving his abilities yet again.

I write of this story not only because of the hard work Vick put into rebuilding himself into a fantastic athlete, but because of how he turned his life around and became a better person (or so it seems). You see, Vick was given a second chance here on this earth, and fully took advantage of it. I want to try to encourage all of us to realize that our first opportunity at something could very well be our only one. Not all of us get a second chance at achieving greatness with our life. So, no matter where you are at in life, treat your opportunities to be a better person as your second and final chance. Whether it's taking the opportunity to share the Lord with someone, or even taking that leap of faith and doing what you love in your career, go for it without holding back. Right now could be your one and only opportunity you will ever have. Take what the Lord has given to you, hold onto it dearly, and never throw it away.