When Legends Die
This last Sunday, January 26, 2020, a legend died. His name was Kobe Bryant. I've seen many filled with grief and sorrow all week. I've watched many videos and read some blogs. I've cried a little and prayerfully reflected about why his death has been so impactful, and here are my musings.
The other day a friend of mine asked a fun, yet simple question. What is the greatest baseball movie of all time? The Sandlot, duh. Moving on.
One of my favorite scenes is when Benny "The Jet" Rodriguez has a dream in which Babe Ruth shows up to encourage him to do the impossible: pickle the beast. If you don't know what that means, stop reading and go watch the movie. I'll wait.
Welcome back. In this dream, Babe Ruth, one of the greatest baseball players of all time, tells this kid that in his fears and concerns that he can't miss this moment. The Babe tells Benny, "Remember kid, there are heroes and there are legends; heroes get remembered, but legends never die."
In all honesty, I think this quotation has permeated our society more than we can admit. We look to celebrities, athletes, and big names as if they are immortal, perfect, and will never die. We base our lifestyle choices, clothing options, diets, exercise routines, things we believe in, and many other details on what these legends reveal to the world. And we think that these are the right ways to live because these folks will live forever.
But, what happens when the stories about these celebrities are proven inaccurate? What happens when our perfect pictures are peeled back to reveal what is actually underneath the canvas? What happens when legends die?
I vividly remember the morning of September 11, 2001. I was in the 8th grade and my mom came into my room to wake me up before my alarm clock went off. She told me something had happened that she thought I should know about it and it was going to impact history. I came downstairs to see the news on, people crying, burning buildings, and fear across a nation.
That morning in homeroom, students were mourning, confused, and terrified. Their view of a perfect, impervious nation had crumbled and I remember thinking that we would never be safe again, or at least, feel safe again.
I remember finding out about celebrity deaths over the years. Whitney Houston, Robin Williams, Michael Jackson, Princess Diana, Steve Irwin, Heath Ledger, and the list goes on. With each death, I remember seeing how my community and I were jolted. I recall finding out details that had been hidden from fans for years. Drug addictions, depression, allegations of sexual misconduct, and many other haunting specifics.
After each passing, I can recollect being struck with the reality that the legends of this world do die. I can recognize that we are dust, formed by a Creator and breathed into with the very life that sustains all things.
In this same way, I can look to each of these legends and see how God breathed His grace into their lives. I can see the giftedness of Whitney's vocals, the talent of Robin William's acting, the legacy of Steve Irwin's passions, and the lasting impact of the life of people like Kobe. I can also call to mind the brokenness of each one of these folks.
In all honesty, this balance is of the utmost importance to us because it reminds us that the legends of this world are human. This means they are going to die. Sorry, Babe Ruth, but you're wrong.
However, there is one Legend who died and lives again. There is a Champion who is crowned Victor of every battle, named the Famous One, and is the source of all these gifts, talents, and legacies I write about. His name is Jesus and although He died, He lives. Although He was buried, He rose. Even though He was crucified, He has conquered sin and death, and now His legacy, His Spirit, and His freedom live on in us.
We see this reality in the grace of God at work in the lives of those around us. This is what some refer to as "prevenient grace" (2 Tim. 1:9-10). This is the grace of God that is at work in a person's life before they know God. It is the grace of God that empowers them to respond to His salvation offer of good news. It is the grace of God that redeems the words and actions of the legends in this world so that their legacy can live on as it points to Jesus.
Although Kobe died this last weekend, something from his life lives on. His championship mindset, known as the "Mamba Mentality", continues to inspire a generation of athletes. His victories on the court show the value of hard work and never giving up.
But his struggles off-the-court are not to be disregarded. Allegations of rape are no minor accusations. Yet, God's redemption is a beautiful gift in each of our stories.
Although, one part of Kobe's history involved charges of misconduct, a larger part of his story involved his devotion to being a faithful husband, father, and "girl dad". He regularly poured into women's basketball programs, attended WNBA finals, and sought equality for those in a sport that is dominated by men.
I can think of another legend who was without blame in all these things though. Jesus is the Champion. Jesus is Victorious and shares it with all who want to participate in the victory of relationship with Him. Jesus was, and is, and will always be faithful. Jesus empowers all people, regardless of race, gender, or history to follow Him, make disciples, and live in the fullness of love and life.
As I look at Kobe's life, I recognize that he left a legacy empowered by God's grace that carries on for us to now honor the gift of God. I can see his legacy in how people still shoot and shout "Kobe!" because he impacted the game of basketball and inspired many to take their shots, whether with balls or with paper wads. I view a legacy that sought the celebration and inclusion of all people in one game.
All of these memories of Kobe are actually paint strokes from the Master Artist who has been graciously and beautifully designing a masterpiece of redemption. And it's not just in the lives of legends and celebrities as defined in this world. This is the portrait that the Creator is offering for us to see in each life around us, including our own.
When legends die, or really when any death occurs, we are invited to look at the threads of grace that the Lord weaved in each person's story. When we look, we will see that the Spirit of God continues to empower the legacies we leave behind to point to the gracious call for all to know Jesus.
Proverbs 13:22 says, "A good parent leaves an inheritance for their children's children." Jesus was the gift of the Father who was calling home sons and daughters to live in the inheritance of His Spirit. When Jesus died, He gave an opportunity for us to receive this love and grace. But then, He rose again to reveal that this gift was not just for our life on this earth, but forevermore.
When death happens, we have the possibility of seeing this inheritance and legacy of grace and responding to it, or we can continue looking to another legend for a temporary fix. There is One Legend who has died and lives again, and His invitation today is for each person to recognize that He has given a really good inheritance. I'd invite you to look at and respond to the legacy He has left for us. You may just find it's far better than any hope we have in the legends of this world.
And yes. I know some of this may be cheesy or too "Christian". But you know what, there's a legacy that I'm looking at right now that reveals there's grace for me to take a shot. So, I'm submitting this like I'm putting up a 3-pointer. "Kobe!" Or better yet, "Jesus!" That's the legacy I want to leave behind. Amen.
"We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure." Hebrews 6:19
