“My faith is in God. So, whatever He has planned for me, that’ll be it.”
Damar Hamlin had no idea what those words would come to mean … to him and so many others. Those were the words he spoke when he was in college.
Lying motionless on the football field Monday night, while an assistant athletic trainer worked feverishly to bring him back to life, God was giving Damar an amazing “whatever.”
A football nation was brought to its knees. Those burly football players were wiping tears and praying, as they surrounded their Buffalo Bills teammate. Damar was fighting for his life, and he did not even know it.
Photo provided
The football world, both its athletes and its viewers, were shaken.
The TV commentators struggled to keep their composure. Some were not able to do so. ESPN analyst and former quarterback, Dan Orlovsky, took a bold stance and prayed, live on air. It’s a sad commentary on our society when praying is considered bold.
The assistant athletic trainer, Denny Kellington, had no idea when he arrived in Cincinnati that he would save the life of one of his players. While he was qualified and prepared to do so, he didn’t know he would be called – not to help with a broken bone, but with a stopped heart.
The Cincinnati Bengals and the Buffalo Bills never imagined they would be meeting in the hallway outside the locker rooms. Their unity mattered. In that hallway, there were no opposing teams.
As people all over the sports world began to pray for Damar, they also recognized their need to pray for the Bengals player who hit him. Tee Higgins was hurting too. As a wide receiver, he made the hit. A fair hit. I can’t begin to imagine how he felt. While it wasn’t his fault, he still had to feel immense guilt.
Damar, without being able to say a word, spoke to the hearts of the football world. God has an amazing plan for his life. Imagine the stories his mother is telling him. As he asks the doctors who won the game, they tell him that he won the game of life. And he did.
One man, without his ability to say a word, brought thousands of people to talk to God. One man was changing lives. One man had set a goal for a $2,500 toy drive. It has now reached $8 million.
So much good from a near tragedy.
I look forward to hearing about the conversations that Damar will have in the future. Damar’s “whatever” looks much different than he ever could have imagined. His “whatever” is making a difference in the lives of so many.
May we never doubt the power of “whatever” God has planned for us. Just ask Damar. He is still here to tell us of its power. He now has a voice. There will be power in his voice. He will have a story to tell. Oh, the beauty of his … whatever.
Janet Hart Leonard can be contacted at janethartleonard@gmail.com or followed on Facebook or Instagram (@janethartleonard). Visit janethartleonard.com.