Former Heisman Trophy winner...NFL MVP...and 2011 first overall pick, Cam Newton, is returning to the Carolina Panthers after spending last season in New England.
I live in Charlotte and yesterday there was immense excitement in the city after the announcement that Newton was coming home and reuniting with this franchise. (You can hear my thoughts as a Panthers fan here: VIDEO)
Once fans heard about the possibility of his return, they immediately started saying, “Come back to the Panthers, Cam,” and implored the team to make the move. To understand why it’s such a big deal, we have to look back at what’s transpired over the years.
Cam played nine years with the Carolina Panthers and the team decided to release him before the 2020 season.
At the time, letting go of the franchise QB turned out to be a tough situation. As Jonathan M. Alexander wrote on CharlotteObserver.com, “The breakup wasn’t pretty. Newton expressed his disappointment in how things went down. The Panthers tried to trade him but were unsuccessful, so he was released to save money against the salary cap. Rhule called it a football decision. He said at the time, they weren’t sure whether he was healthy.”
Of course, Newton must have been frustrated by how things ended after he had done so much for the franchise - including leading them to a Super Bowl run in 2015.
So, it's surprising to hear that the once fractured relationship has been mended and the Panthers and Cam are on the same team again.
There had to have been humility on both sides to make this deal come together, and I'm happy to see their willingness to reconcile and move on from the past since it seems best for Cam’s career and the team moving forward.
Coach Matt Rhule had this to say in the press conference: "I don't live with a lot of hindsight; I don't look backward. You talk to someone; if someone has feelings, you listen to them. Cam was talking about the future; Cam wasn't talking about the past. I was talking about the future; I wasn't talking about the past. I'm ready to go."
Panthers GM, Scott Fitterer, described the meeting Cam had with the front office at owner David Tepper's house saying, “We had a really heartfelt, sincere discussion. It wasn’t really about anything in the past. It was more about, what are we gonna do now moving forward and what is Cam’s role?”
This type of reuniting and reconciliation is rare in sports (other than the typical ceremonial one-day contracts when players retire), but it’s encouraging to know it’s possible.
Unfortunately, it’s also rare in life for people to reconcile because of pain, pride, and an unwillingness to let go of what happened in the past.
However, as followers of Jesus, our lives should be marked by a pursuit of reconciliation. We should have a desire for our fractured relationships to be restored and reconciled as we seek to move forward from previous hurts, disappointments, and conflicts.
Both sides' willingness to humble themselves, work through the grievances, and be open to having the “heartfelt, sincere discussion” isn't always possible.
But, in light of God’s grace, forgiveness, and reconciliation with us, we as followers of Jesus, must do what we can to lead the way with a similar approach in our relationships.
In addition, we must come alongside others to help them experience reconciliation with the most important relationship we all have, which is with our Creator.
2 Corinthians 5:17-21 explains, “...that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! And all of this is a gift from God, who brought us back to Himself through Christ. And God has given us this task of reconciling people to Him.
For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to Himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them. And He gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation. So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making His appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, 'Come back to God!' For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.”
As exciting as it is that Cam has come back to the Panthers, even more so let's celebrate that we have the opportunity to come back to God. Today, let’s consider the message of reconciliation and remember that God is waiting with open arms to be reunited with us.
I’m Bryce Johnson and you can UNPACK that!
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, thank you for Your willingness to reconcile the world to Yourself and no longer count my sin against me. I’m so thankful that through Jesus I have been made right with You. Please give me the grace and strength I need to seek reconciliation with others and tell everyone about being reconciled to You. In Jesus’ name, I pray, Amen.Discussion Questions for PACKS:
What fractured relationships would like to see reconciled?
What has your experience been in the past with reconciliation?
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