Football and the Virtue of Tolerating Disappointment

ThinkChristian.net has a great post about the "underrated value of tolerating disappointment".  From the piece:

Recently, ESPN the Magazine ran a fascinating profile of Aaron Rodgers that focused on the quarterback’s “scars of disappointment.” Though now one of the NFL’s most widely respected starters, Rodgers did not have a smooth, painless path getting there. He was not recruited by Division 1 colleges and, instead, played his freshman year at a junior college. In the NFL draft, some analysts predicted he’d go number one. He was chosen with the 24th pick. Once in the NFL, he waited in the wings for three years behind Brett “Will-He-Won’t-He” Favre.

After setting up this history, ESPN’s Tim Keown delivers this great paragraph:

You know what Rodgers will tell you is an underrated virtue? The ability to tolerate disappointment. We’ve tried to eliminate disappointment, run it off like a deadly virus. The world’s most potent economy collapsed when too many people decided they couldn’t bear to be disappointed. They bought houses they couldn’t afford and cars they didn’t need. They believed that a parent’s most appalling failure is a disappointed child. Oh, we can’t disappoint the children! Lord forbid we allow our kids to be deprived. The dirtiest word in the English language: no.

Christians have a unique view into these matters:

“I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. … I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength” (Philippians 4:11-13, NIV).

“We also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us” (Romans 5:3-5, NIV).

“Don’t shuffle along, eyes to the ground, absorbed with the things right in front of you. Look up, and be alert to what is going on around Christ—that’s where the action is. See things from his perspective.” (Colossians 3:1-2, The Message).