After nine seasons, an era ended in Carolina as the Panthers released quarterback, Cam Newton, yesterday. He was the No. 1 overall pick in 2011 and his time under center was filled with exciting plays, game-winning drives, and incredibly athletic performances.
As the team parts ways with their franchise quarterback, there are conflicting emotions and tough choices for Panthers fans to make as they decide how to remember him.
They can either focus on the positives, the special memories, and the reasons to be thankful for Cam’s career in Carolina or they can dwell on the negatives and the ways his tenure fell short.
Ever since he was drafted, Cam has been a polarizing player. Fans have either loved his style, personality, leadership qualities, and celebrations or they've viewed him as arrogant, pouty, and selfish.
Looking through a positive lens, Panthers fans can remember his MVP season and the Super Bowl appearance, his ability to score with ease on the goal line, his willingness to give a football to a fan after touchdowns, and the fact he did great work in the community.
But looking through a negative lens, Panthers fans can look back and complain that Cam was always hurt, struggled with his accuracy, didn’t dive on the loose ball during the Super Bowl, and started new fashion trends during press conferences.
As Cam says goodbye and looks for a new team, fans can applaud and thank him for all he brought to Carolina or focus on his disappointing final two seasons.
Whether we’re talking about sports or life, each of us chooses which lens we want to look through and which perspective we have. We can be thankful or ungrateful, discouraged or hopeful, and view our circumstances as problems or opportunities.
With the current condition of the world, it’s hard to remain positive and hopeful, but we can choose to have gratitude and see the unique opportunities our current status presents us.
As followers of Jesus, instead of complaining and seeing everything that is wrong, we can operate with a grateful and hopeful mindset.
Paul encourages us in 1 Thessalonians 5:16-19 (AMP) to "Rejoice always and delight in your faith; be unceasing and persistent in prayer; in every situation be thankful and continually give thanks to God; for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus. Do not quench the Spirit.”
Gratitude changes our attitude and fills our hearts with joy, peace, and hope. So today, let’s give thanks to God for all He’s done, is doing, and will do.
He is worthy of our praise, trust, and appreciation. How we think and what we think about affects our outlook and perspective on life, so let’s focus on Him to be positive and optimistic.
Paul encourages us again in Philippians 4:8 (NLT) to ”…Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.”
I’m Bryce Johnson and you can UNPACK that!
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I pray I would view my circumstances through Your lens so that I would be hopeful and positive. Lord, I’m filled with gratitude for Your grace, love, and the countless undeserved blessings that You give me. Help me to focus on You above all else because You are worthy of praise. In Jesus’ name, I pray, Amen.Discussion Questions for PACKS:
Do you find yourself viewing circumstances through a negative or positive lens?
How would your life be different if your perspective shifted to gratitude and praise?
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