Steve Alessi: Author of Alessi’s Angle, Pastor of Metro Life Church in Miami, Husband of World Renown Worship Leader Mary Alessi and Father of Four. 
You could say it was the "Fumble heard around the World" this past Sunday when Kyle Williams of the San Francisco 49ers fumbled the kick-off return which allowed the New York Giants to kick the game winning field goal in overtime, sending the G-Men to another Super Bowl.
Not that I had any skin in this game, though I was leaning toward the 49's because they've had a great season with their new Coach and did more than anyone expected. Except for some fans of the team who took to twitter after the game with tweets like "@KyleWilliams_10 I wish death to you and your family."
If social media shows us anything it's that people need to think before they speak. Just because a thought may race through our mind, doesn't give us permission to express it. They're our thoughts and maybe some of them just need to be kept to ourselves. Anywho...
The next day I was speaking to a friend of mine who coaches at a prominent College football program and the fumble came up in our conversation. As he was speaking I thought about the many times he as a retired professional footballer had to endure a season that ended on a sour note. The coulda, woulda shoulda's of football. The "if only's" and "what if's." The more I thought about it I realized just how much life and sports seem to mirror each other.
How many times have we fumbled the ball in our relationships? How many business deals were missed because we fumbled the ball in the presentation? I'll tell you one thing; I'm so glad no one's following me around with camera's highlighting my fumbles! I love hearing the TV analyst covering the games tell us, with the aid of slow-motion replay, what the player did wrong and what they "should have done" differently. My first thought is, "Yeah, sounds so easy from our comfortable couches and high-tech announcer's booths." But it's never easy when you're in the heat of the game.
Most mishaps in sports occur when the player takes their eyes off of the ball. Somehow, their opponent got in their head or the bright lights of the moment gets them out of their game for a brief second, and instead of focusing on "first things first" like catching, shooting or hitting the ball, the athlete gets distracted and a mistake is made.
And maybe, just maybe, that's why fumbles are allowed to happen in life. Could it be life's way of helping us be better? A reminder that we're not all that great after all, and we need to keep on trying to do better? What are we looking at anyway, just our talent or are we also keeping a look at our hearts? Fumbles just might be the subtle reminder that true Champions have to keep a delicate balance in life between what you do (talents) and who you are (heart). Gifting can only take you so far. But a good, strong heart, takes you over the top.
If I was able to speak to Kyle Williams, I would look him in the eye and remind him that this is just one game...one season...one opportunity that is allowing him to see what he's really made of. True Champs know life is a Team Sport, and now is not the time to run, hide and go into lock-down. Now is the time to face your fumbles and make the right adjustments for next year.
So how do we handle the fumbles of life? (1) Keep life in perspective. (2) Be quick to forget. (3) Surround yourself with good teammates. (4) Learn to do better next time. (5) Stay focused on your strengths. And by all means, (6) Refuse to listen to fools.
If you had a chance to speak to Kyle Williams, what words of encouragement would you say to him?
Mr. Williams I know its rough but you will have a chance to redeem all of this...and then I would probably talk to him about all the fumbles that I have had with my family, relationships etc. (Which probably) are allot worse than a football game...With out sounding to spirtual I would defintely bring in that GOD is in the buisness of 2nd and 3rd chances life has a funny way of turning around when we serve him...Thanks for keeping things in perspective for us Pastor.
Antonio Villasuso
Wow! you really got me thinking, Pastor! My first instinct, even as I saw it happen, was very "mom". I felt so bad for him, saw in his eyes how bad that sucked and how disappointed he felt!!! But your blog reminds me that he just got handed a huge opportunity to change, shift and build. Without those types of huge events, we never grow, never go deeper, and never experience the true highs and lows of life. So, as you (and Klemmer) taught us, it's HIS CHOICE what he does with this and what he allows it to do in him.
I would probably tell Mr. Williams that like everyone, we all have the "hit or miss" factor in any game, especially the game of life... but that it doesn't stop us from continuing to aim for the goals we've set up for ourselves. If there was a setback, it only means we need to prepare for the comeback! Thanks for the reminder :)
I would say "It's never too late to change things or fix things. It's only too late when you die!" Goodness now that I'm writing my thoughts out, That sounds a bit cold to say to him. You are so right Pastor Steve when you mentioned that we have to think before we speak!!! Somethings are better left unspoken and we learn from our mistakes the hard way! By the way I love to read your blogs. I'm not a good writer so I rarely comment on your blogs. I will try to put in my 2 cents every now and then since I found out that comments help your blog!!! LOL!!!!!
This is a tremendous word Pastor and I will let it slide that you "leaned toward" the 9ers. I love the quote "Face Your Fumbles", learn and not listen to fools. Those fools have not faced their fumbles and try to make others fumble. Your point about "a good, strong heart, takes you over the top." is priceless! Thanks for an inspiring word and of course LETS GO BIG BLUE!!!!!!
I would say to Mr.Williams... Just like one moment can cause a losing situation; one moment can cause a WIN!! And although you experienced a "loss" you haven't really "lost" unless you QUIT. The sooner you can put this moment in its proper perspective the better; so you can effectively prepare for the next moment.
"NOTHING IS OVER" - Rambo (First Blood)
Favorite phrase in your Blog: "Fumbles just might be the subtle reminder that true Champions have to keep a delicate balance in life between what you do (talents) and who you are (heart)."
Thx Pastor Steve...
Awesome insight, Pastor. If I had the chance, I'd tell him I have a gift for him and give him your sermon series about listening to the right voice...I think Imo go dig that out for myself anyway...
I would say " OH COME ON MAN...WHAT WAS THAT" in Mike Ditka's voice! JK! As I always tell myself when Patriots didn't make it last year "there's ALWAYS another chance". So thanks for the reminder Pastor that despite all the ridiculous moronic fumbles we make in LIFE.....because of God's grace and mercy we still have ANOTHER chance to pick up the ball and make the play the right way! BTW GO PATS!
THIS IS WHAT I WOULD SAY TO KYLE WILLIAMS:
"KEEP MOVING, KEEP GOING, YOU KEEP GOING, DON'T STOP, YOU GOT MORE THAN THAT IN YOU, DON'T QUIT UNTIL YOU HAVE NOTHING LEFT, EVERYTHING YOU GOT, KEEP DRIVING, YOU'RE DOING GOOD, COME ON, COME ON, YOU KEEP GOING KYLE, DON'T QUIT KYLE, UUUUHHH YOU KEEP GOING, GGGRRRRR, DON'T QUUUUUUUUIIIIITT!!!"
"IF YOU WALK AROUND DEFEATED, SO WILL YOUR TEAM MATES!"
FACING THE GIANTS, Best Scence The Death Crawl
The Summersett Motto: TEAM WORK MAKES THE DREAM WORK
I felt WORSE for the kicker of the Ravens because at least Williams is viewed as a football player & Kickers are not. Thus, fumbles are part of the game, but MISSED KICKS from that short distance is why you're paid. At any rate, excellent article as we ALL have fumbled the ball in life somehow/someway. Many successful people go through bad starts, jump starts, bad decisions, and even collisions before they ARRIVE. Like the saying goes "Success is NOT FINAL, Failure is NOT FATAL: It's the COURAGE TO CONTINUE that counts!"