Where did you grow up?
A seemingly fundamental question can tell a person a lot about you. The places we grow up shape us in ways that we might never expect. A journey towards wholeness requires us not to forget where we came from.
Last night, the Cincinnati Bengals drafted Joe Burrow with the first overall pick in the NFL draft. Rumors swirled that the Bengals might trade the first selection for a haul of picks to build the team after a dismal two-win season. Not to mention, the Bengals do not have the best reputation when it comes to developing talent. Instead, the perception would include cost-cutting moves rather than making the team better.
Burrow grew up in Athens, OH, three hours from Cincinnati. When he received the Heisman Trophy, the highest honor in college football, he describes the poverty from Southeast Ohio. Check out the speech below:
This is not the first time the cards were stacked against Burrow. He attended Ohio State University in hopes of representing his home state. In missing out on the starting spot, he transferred to Louisiana State University to become part of a magical run to win the national championship.
Like LeBron James before him in Cleveland, Burrow has a magnificent opportunity to bring hope to Ohio. Honestly, there’s something about a patron son and daughter coming home to start a transformation. Only time will tell.
The Bible subtly shares a similar message of not forgetting where we came from. The Gospels share about Jesus coming from Nazareth, an ancient version of Athens, OH. The tag line said, “Nothing good comes from Nazareth.” The writer of Ruth keeps reminding us that she grew up on the other side of the tracks in Moab. Yet, this woman would be in the line of David and, ultimately, Jesus.
To not forget where you came from invites you to see how God shaped and formed you for today. We begin to see how God has prepared us for today.
I hope Joe Burrow has success in Cincinnati. Perhaps, he’s the right quarterback to play for this team, because he understands the community in ways that other players would not. Only time will tell.
How did the place you grew up shape you today? Share in the comment section below.
Photo from Athlon Sports at https://athlonsports.com/nfl/2020-nfl-draft-profile-joe-burrow.