One Heart Beat Away from Playing

The last time Todd Collins, the 2nd string quarterback for the Washington Redskins played a game, let alone, as a stating quarterback, was back in 1997. In 2007, ten years later, Collins would be starting as quarterback in the ninth game of the season because Jason Campbell, the staring quarterback, had gone down with a knee injury. Collin's number was called to lead the team to a possible playoff berth.

The Skins were at the brink of elimination from the playoffs when Collins took over and he did not miss a beat. He led the Skins to four straight wins and a trip to the playoffs after not playing in ten years. TEN YEARS! Even though the Skins lost to the Settle Seahawks in the first round of the wild card game, Collins was a winner in my books!

The Newscasters had said, “Since taking over for Campbell, Collins has exceeded expectations. In four games, Collins completed 67-of-105 passes for 888 yards, five touchdowns and no interceptions. His QB rating: 106.4.” For one who had not played the game in that long of a time, this was impressive. Most current starting quarterbacks who have played longer than Collins don’t even have the statistics Collins has to their credit.

How was Collins able to get to this point? Answer-Preparation!

It is said that “Collins' success can be found in his work ethic. He rarely saw action on game days, but he practiced and prepared like a starter every day.” WOW! I do not know how many people, yours truly included, in today’s world, would be willing to go out day in and day out working hard at what they do if they knew that they may never be called upon, never get recognized, or never get a promotion. Todd Collins beat the odds. He prepared and practiced like a starter every single day with the possibility of never seeing action on the field. However, when the opportunity came, he proved that he was ready.

Former Skins Head Coach Joe Gibbs said this of Collins "What has shown up on the field is the same thing that has shown up in his preparation during all of those weeks when he never got to play. He was extremely well prepared and mentally into everything, even at practice.” If Collins had not committed himself to practice and preparation, he may have gotten the chance to start games, but one is left to wonder how long he would have lasted if preparation was not a factor.

Preparation is not only required in sports. Preparation should be a lifestyle. II Timothy 4: 2 encourages us to be “prepared in season and out of season.”

Most of us fail at the preparation stage because we do not see the immediate results. Preparation carries with it a connotation of working hard, being ready, and equipped and the person responsible for preparation is you and I. Preparation is personal. I am reminded of the ten virgins in Matthew 25: 1-13 who started off on a journey to meet the bridegroom. At the end of the story, it is recorded that of the ten, only five virgins had oil to sustain them when the groom came. The other five were not so fortunate; because of their lack of preparation, they missed out of the very thing that they had set the hearts and mind to attend. In verse 10 of Chapter 25, it reads:

And while they were going away to make the purchase (the unprepared five), the bridegroom came, and those who were ready (prepared) went in with him to the wedding feast; and the door was shut. "Later the other virgins also came, saying, `Lord, lord, open up for us.' "But he answered, `Truly I say to you, I do not know you.' 13 "Be on the alert (prepared) then, for you do not know the day nor the hour.” (Inclusions in parenthesis and emphasis mine)

Many a time as people, we refuse to prepare subconsciously because we are waiting for a table laid out, ready for us to partake of the goods on it. Most times, that is not the case; we need to prepare and work for what we hope to have on the table. Consider this-sometimes we do not worship in our personal lives and yet expect to be the next worship leader at the church. We want to preach in the pulpits of our churches when we do not take the time to prepare to share God’s good news with the person down the street. We expect financial breakthroughs in our lives when we do not prepare to give of our finances when we are given the opportunity.

Preparation is key to doors being opened for us when we stay faithful, even when we do not see a positive outcome.

Asked how Collins kept focused on the game of football having not played in ten years, his response was telling of a man who understands what it means to prepare in life:

"Number one, it is your job. Even if you're not playing, it is your job to be prepared…you don't want to let your team down. It is one thing to let yourself down, but it is also another thing to let your teammates down. When you step in the huddle, those guys are depending on you."

As people, more so as children of God, we need to always be prepared in every area of life. It be school, chores, relationships, we need to be prepared because there are people who are depending on us for their next direction in life and if we fail to prepare for them, we let them down.

Preparation can be frustrating but it is worth it. Collins said what motivated him to prepare as though he would start a game each Sunday was this:

“No one knows when your opportunity is going to come, so that's what makes you stay consistent in the preparation--I believed that if I continued to work hard and hang around long enough, I was going to get my chance. When my chance came, I wanted to be ready."

My prayer is that we have an attitude like Collins has-always prepared so that when the doors to life’s success are opened before us, we will be ready. Opportunities in life do not come that often. We need to learn to be ready through the process of preparation.

Of Collins, one of the coaches said: “This man prepares every day because he knows he is one heart beat away from playing."

Are we one heart beat away playing for God?