How Steve Spurrier's Sudden Resignation Shook Me Up

Nature’s first green is gold, 
Her hardest hue to hold. 
Her early leaf’s a flower; 
But only so an hour. 
Then leaf subsides to leaf. 
So Eden sank to grief, 
So dawn goes down to day. 
Nothing gold can stay. 

Robert Frost

It was strange seeing the headline run across the bottom of my TV last night. At the age of 70, and currently 2-4 (0-4 in the SEC), Steve Spurrier knew his time was over. Despite all the criticism about him walking out mid-season..... it is already next year as far as recruiting is concerned, and Steve did not pull any punches in his press conference.

"My answer has always been the same ... If it starts going south, starts going bad, then I need to get out. ... It's time for me to get out of the way and give somebody else a go at it."

So I sat there looking at him..... amazing health and vitality for 70!

And it dawned on me....... "In 19 years, I will be right there!"

And it has shaken me....... Steve Spurrier won the Heisman trophy, is a Hall of Fame coach, wealthy, famous, beloved, won a national title.... but do you know what is his most valuable commodity?

TIME

He has done well with his time.... but it just keeps tricking and moving......

Have you ever read the A.E. Housman poem, "Loveliest of Trees"?

It takes a Bible verse, Psalm 90:10 and presents a powerful truth.

Psalm 90:10King James Version (KJV)10 The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away.

In other words, our lives are generally 70 years (3 score is 60)- 80 if we are strong.

Now the poem:

Loveliest of trees the cherry now         
Is hung with bloom along the bough
And stands about the woodland ride
Wearing white for Eastertide.

Now of my three score years and ten,
twenty will not come again.
And take from seventy years a score, 
It only leaves me fifty more.

And since to look at things in bloom,
Fifty Springs is little room, 
About the woodlands I will go
To see the cherry hung with snow.

See what the poet is saying? It is the Spring and he is looking at the Cherry Blossoms. He is 20 years old and he realizes that if his days are 70 years.... he now only has 50 more times to see this majestic sight! So he is not going to waste it!

I am only 19 years away from Steve Spurrier and the end of his golden era..... nothing lasts except the Word of God and the souls of men....

What do I need to be doing right now?

Oh I wish time could freeze- but it won't.

My babies are grown....

I sometimes feel my age.....

Lord, please don't let me waste it!

May I one day say with Paul- and though it could come at any time...( I hope it is at least 3 scores and 10!)

For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.

(2 Timothy 4:6-8 ESV)