The Fridge & Faith
I just read this sad story about the wasted life of William “The Fridge” Perry, former star football player with the Chicago Bears:
http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/playoffs/2010/news/story?id=6091766
At one time, his immense talent and bigger-than-life personality had him sitting on top of the world as a Super Bowl champion and a much sought-after celebrity with numerous endorsement deals. Today, he is nearly broke and broken by an inability to conquer his addiction to alcohol. His story is a sad reminder that talent alone doesn’t make you successful in life. It’s talent, character, and accountability.
The Fridge reminds me that we all have inner demons that we battle. I know mine all too well. But, God never designed us to battle them by ourselves. He gave us His Spirit to serve as a Guide and a Guard. And He gave us a desire to live in community with a small group of brothers or sisters who can love us and lift us to fly higher and farther than we ever could alone.
Ecclesiastes 4:12 says, “A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.”
I am so thankful for the brothers and sisters in my small group. I need them, and they need me. How about you?
I hired “The Fridge” once to sign autographs in a 30′ by 30′ trade show booth. He signed tirelessly, people took pictures and he stayed well past the time he had contracted for. Hit of the show. He could not have been better to work with or more humble.
Sad to hear of this addiction. Hope he gets help because his heart is as big as he is.