I did not grow up in a family of readers. Oh, I don’t mean my family was illiterate. My parents could read; they simply didn’t do much of it. They read what they needed to read, but I can’t recall either of them sitting around reading a great deal. They occasionally read a newspaper or magazine but rarely ever a book, and certainly not biographies. The main book my mother read was a book that contained 66 other books. Well, now that I think about it, the gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John are biographies, so Mom did read those four short biographies many times. Dad may have read those, too, but not that I can remember.
Reading books was not discouraged by my parents, but it wasn’t strongly encouraged. Because of that fact, I was probably 12 years old before I ever read a book from cover to cover. The first book I remember reading in its entirety was a biography. It was the story of Bart Starr. One of the things about him that attracted me was that he had grown up in my native Alabama. He played football at the University of Alabama, but I was too young to remember that. I have read that due to injuries and perhaps others reasons, he didn’t get a great deal of playing time. He did, however, manage to get drafted by an NFL team, but not until the 17th round. No doubt, many fans didn’t think he would make it as a professional player. He not only made it, but he managed to play for 16 seasons…for the same team. He led the Green Bay Packers to five NFL championships and won the first two Super Bowls ever played. He was named MVP for both Super Bowls. Not bad for a kid from Alabama who was the 200th player picked in that year’s draft.
Reading Bart Starr’s biography began a lifetime of reading books for me. I have read all kinds of books, and even written a few, but my favorites are biographies. I have read about some of the greatest people who ever lived. I’ve read the stories of great athletes, soldiers, musicians and entertainers. I read about many of our nation’s founding fathers, including a number of our presidents, then and since. I have read numerous stories of great Chirstian men and women, including people like Charles Spurgeon, D.L. Moody, Jonathan Edwards, Billy Graham, William Carey and Lottie Moon.
I have read one biography that is different from all the others, because it was about one person who was different from anyone who has ever lived. Many have accomplished marvelous things, but Jesus did miraculous things. What he did not only touched the lives of others, but also he changed lives…and still does. In fact, he gives life…eternal life.
This week, we Christians celebrate his life. Strange as it may sound, Friday of this week, we celebrate his death. Normally, we don’t celebrate when someone dies, especially if it is someone we love, but his death was different. We even call that day “Good Friday.” One might expect that day to be called “Bad Friday,” but because of what happened three days later, we call it “Good.”
The end of Jesus’ life wasn’t unique in that he died, but why he died, and especially that he did not stay dead. The story in most biographies ends with death. On the cross, Jesus said, “It is finished,” but that didn’t mean his life was finished. Sunday, we will celebrate his resurrection. We celebrate his death and life, and we celebrate the life he gives us. Happy Easter, my friends!
Bill King can be reached at bkpreach@yahoo.com or 334-728-5514 (office).
