Editor's Note As heard on the radio By Darcy L. Fargo

November 13, 2024

“He’s trying to play hero ball,” the radio analyst said.

The NFL Network analyst was describing a rookie quarterback, Caleb Williams, who has had a somewhat rocky start to his professional football career despite being taken first in the annual draft – the event during which college players are selected by professional teams – and being touted as a promising young quarterback.

“He puts so much pressure on himself to carry the team, he sometimes makes bad decisions and puts the ball in danger,” the analyst continues. “He’s trying to do too much.”

The description struck me. I turned off my radio for a few minutes.

“Me, too, Caleb Williams,” I thought. “Me, too.”

I don’t play “hero ball” in the literal sense. While I played powder puff football – women’s club football – in college, my days of contact sports are over. But I “play hero ball” with my life all the time.

I put a lot of pressure on myself. I stress out about things over which I have no control. I try my best to exert my control over situations and push for the outcomes I want. If things don’t go my way, I don’t react very well. I get mad. I get depressed. I feel like a failure.

That’s a lot to put on myself.
Playing “hero ball” with my life, I’m not giving God what He wants and needs most from me – my will.

I’m painfully attached to my will. I struggle to surrender my will and my circumstances to God, even those things I know are outside of my control.

But God’s not done giving me reminders and helping me get there. He gives me people who remind me to surrender situations and circumstances to God. He gives me opportunity after opportunity to practice. God even reminds me through radio football commentary.

He wants me to let Him be the hero.