Going Viral
I recently came across the story of Kansei Matsuzawa, the current kicker for the University of Hawaii’s football team. At 20 years of age, he was living in Tokyo and working as a waiter at Morton’s steakhouse. He had never played football before, but on a trip to the United States he went to an NFL game and fell in love with field goal kicking. He went back home and taught himself how to kick a football by watching YouTube videos. He spent his early 20s learning how to kick field goals and how to speak English.
Kansei convinced a tiny junior college in Nelsonville, Ohio to give him a chance and he actually made the team and excelled, while showing great potential. This season he transferred to Hawaii and as a 26-year-old became the starting kicker for the team. Hawaii opened the season against Stanford this past Friday, August 23rd. The game was tied and came down to the wire and with a few seconds left in a tie game, Kansei was called up and kicked the game-winning field goal as time expired! His story went viral and he instantly became the darling of Hawaii football and maybe all of College football.
After the game, he was asked if he was nervous about kicking the game winner on such a big stage. He jokingly said he was more nervous trying to speak English in front of all the media.
As I saw the story of Kansei unfold, I thought, “What a great, inspiring story!” Kansei’s story didn’t start with fame, prestige or limelight. He simply committed himself to kicking footballs, worked hard, and even after “going viral” and becoming famous, his biggest fear was speaking English!
His story reminds me of Colossians 3:23-24, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.”
So many times, I question, “Does anybody see this? Will I ever get noticed or get any recognition? Am I making any progress in life?” Maybe you can relate. Maybe you feel like you don’t have what it takes, or you don’t have the pedigree. Maybe you feel like you have been doing everything right and it seems like you can’t catch a break. It may feel like you always get overlooked and you find yourself asking the question, “Does it even matter?”
Over my sabbatical I got a chance to spend a significant amount of time with my former Romanian community. It’s been over 10 years since I’ve seen some of these people. I realized I missed them and had a great time reconnecting with so many. Surprisingly, many remarked about how much I have changed. In fact, one person said, “Where is the old Adrian, and what have you done with him?” Of course, I feel like nothing has changed and I’m the same. Yet, in the eyes of others, significant spiritual maturity, wisdom and growth have occurred.
Now, I didn’t kick the winning field goal or go viral, yet to be honest, it was very encouraging. The comments I received validated that God has been working in me to grow me into a better follower of Christ. Through a combination of His power at work in my life and my own commitment to do the hard work needed, God has helped me to become a better Christian, husband, and father.
Many of us go unnoticed in this life. Many of us have not experienced “going viral” or having our “15-munutes of fame” moment. But if we work with all our heart, as working for the Lord in whatever we do, WE WILL receive an inheritance from the Lord!
Let the story of Kansei inspire you and the words of Paul to the Colossian church motivate you. Your work does matter! God sees, God notices, God rewards. You will receive an inheritance! So when you pick up litter, when you anonymously pay-it-forward in the drive through line, when you laugh with someone, or cry with someone, when you watch YouTube sermons and videos late at night on how to better yourself, when you investing in yourself and in the kingdom, when you are trying to live a righteous God-pleasing life—it matters! God sees and “in due time you will reap a harvest if you do not give up.” (Galatians 6:9)
Listen to 1 Corinthians 15:58, “Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.”
Don’t chase the lights, fame or prestige. Stand firm and work toward building the kingdom of God. Give yourself fully to growing and being the best version of you, and the Lord will take care of rest.
Kansei convinced a tiny junior college in Nelsonville, Ohio to give him a chance and he actually made the team and excelled, while showing great potential. This season he transferred to Hawaii and as a 26-year-old became the starting kicker for the team. Hawaii opened the season against Stanford this past Friday, August 23rd. The game was tied and came down to the wire and with a few seconds left in a tie game, Kansei was called up and kicked the game-winning field goal as time expired! His story went viral and he instantly became the darling of Hawaii football and maybe all of College football.
After the game, he was asked if he was nervous about kicking the game winner on such a big stage. He jokingly said he was more nervous trying to speak English in front of all the media.
As I saw the story of Kansei unfold, I thought, “What a great, inspiring story!” Kansei’s story didn’t start with fame, prestige or limelight. He simply committed himself to kicking footballs, worked hard, and even after “going viral” and becoming famous, his biggest fear was speaking English!
His story reminds me of Colossians 3:23-24, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.”
So many times, I question, “Does anybody see this? Will I ever get noticed or get any recognition? Am I making any progress in life?” Maybe you can relate. Maybe you feel like you don’t have what it takes, or you don’t have the pedigree. Maybe you feel like you have been doing everything right and it seems like you can’t catch a break. It may feel like you always get overlooked and you find yourself asking the question, “Does it even matter?”
Over my sabbatical I got a chance to spend a significant amount of time with my former Romanian community. It’s been over 10 years since I’ve seen some of these people. I realized I missed them and had a great time reconnecting with so many. Surprisingly, many remarked about how much I have changed. In fact, one person said, “Where is the old Adrian, and what have you done with him?” Of course, I feel like nothing has changed and I’m the same. Yet, in the eyes of others, significant spiritual maturity, wisdom and growth have occurred.
Now, I didn’t kick the winning field goal or go viral, yet to be honest, it was very encouraging. The comments I received validated that God has been working in me to grow me into a better follower of Christ. Through a combination of His power at work in my life and my own commitment to do the hard work needed, God has helped me to become a better Christian, husband, and father.
Many of us go unnoticed in this life. Many of us have not experienced “going viral” or having our “15-munutes of fame” moment. But if we work with all our heart, as working for the Lord in whatever we do, WE WILL receive an inheritance from the Lord!
Let the story of Kansei inspire you and the words of Paul to the Colossian church motivate you. Your work does matter! God sees, God notices, God rewards. You will receive an inheritance! So when you pick up litter, when you anonymously pay-it-forward in the drive through line, when you laugh with someone, or cry with someone, when you watch YouTube sermons and videos late at night on how to better yourself, when you investing in yourself and in the kingdom, when you are trying to live a righteous God-pleasing life—it matters! God sees and “in due time you will reap a harvest if you do not give up.” (Galatians 6:9)
Listen to 1 Corinthians 15:58, “Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.”
Don’t chase the lights, fame or prestige. Stand firm and work toward building the kingdom of God. Give yourself fully to growing and being the best version of you, and the Lord will take care of rest.
Posted in Notes from Pastor Adrian
2 Comments
My favorite thing about you! Real, authentic, motivating
What a cool story! I’ll need to watch some highlights of this guy.
n
nGood reminder that what we do, we should do for Jesus. Not for recognition from man but to please God himself and to glorify His kingdom. Thanks Adrian.