A Decision with Long-Term Implications

In Psalm 1, we see a picture of someone who is rooted in Christ, whose life is built on a firm foundation, who is dedicated to living a life pleasing to the Lord.
1 Blessed is the man Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful;
2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord, And in His law he meditates day and night.
3 He shall be like a tree Planted by the rivers of water, That brings forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also shall not wither; And whatever he does shall prosper.

God has given us life, and He desires for us to make decisions that are consistent with His Word and take into account, when applicable, the long-term implications.   In the choices we make each day, we can reinforce the quality of life, the abundant life, that Jesus wants us to abide in.  And, I believe He is pleased when we seek Him diligently and surround ourselves with wise people who can help give us direction and hold us accountable.   He wants our lives to reflect a firm foundation, rooted in the knowledge of Him.

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God wants us to make decisions that are directed by His Spirit and reinforced by wise counsel. There's a passage in Proverbs 19 that reinforces these concepts:
20 Listen to counsel and receive instruction, That you may be wise in your latter days.
21 There are many plans in a man's heart, Nevertheless the Lord's counsel--that will stand.

It was a decision that certainly got the attention of the NFL - last week, ESPN.com reported that San Francisco 49ers linebacker Chris Borland, one of the NFL's top rookies last season, told the program, "Outside the Lines," that he is retiring because of concerns about the long-term effects of repetitive head trauma.

Borland is 24 years old and said he made his decision after consulting with family members, concussion researchers, friends and current and former teammates, as well as studying what is known about the relationship between football and neurodegenerative disease.

He is quoted as saying, "I feel largely the same, as sharp as I've ever been. For me, it's wanting to be proactive," adding, "I'm concerned that if you wait 'til you have symptoms, it's too late. ... There are a lot of unknowns. I can't claim that X will happen. I just want to live a long, healthy life, and I don't want to have any neurological diseases or die younger than I would otherwise."

According to the ESPN story, Borland said he began to have misgivings during training camp, stating that he sustained what he believed to be a concussion stuffing a running play but played through it, in part because he was trying to make the team.

He said, "I just thought to myself, 'What am I doing? Is this how I'm going to live my adult life, banging my head, especially with what I've learned and know about the dangers?'"

ESPN.com also reported that Borland would be giving back three-quarters of his signing bonus to the 49ers - an amount it estimates at just over $463 thousand.

This story really got my attention, not necessarily because of the seemingly growing concern in the NFL over concussions, but because of Borland's willingness to make a long-term decision.  I want to analyze the decision just a bit, because I think there's a strong message for us in our decision-making processes:

Number 1, Borland demonstrated that he was not merely living for the day - he was projecting for the long-term.  Some would say that he may have gotten it wrong, but nevertheless he was bold to take his future into account.  We can be challenged to think about the importance of making decisions today with tomorrow, or a number of tomorrows, in mind.  

Number 2, Chris Borland had an understanding of the importance of living a full life.  He is intent on doing that and not engaging in behavior that he regards as being a hindrance.   For the Christian, Jesus came to give us life and to give it abundantly - we can be concerned about the quality of our lives and make sure that we are treating ourselves - spirit, soul, and body - well each day.

Finally, he apparently did not make his decision in a vacuum...he sought counsel from family members and friends.  He did his own research.  The Bible teaches us to surround ourselves with wise counsel, and when making potentially life-altering decisions, we do well to consult with other people, especially those in the know about our circumstances, maybe those who have faced similar conditions.