Last night I went to a dear friend’s house and we watched the old black and white movie, “Mr. Deeds Goes to Town” with Gary Cooper. As we drank our raspberry tea and ate caramel brownies after the movie ended, my mind wandered to a line that Mr. Deeds, the main character, had said:

“People here are funny. They work so hard at living that they forget how to live.”

He’d said something else that caught my attention, too: “If people spent half as much time being nice to each other as they do being mean, the world would be a much better place.” Mr. Deeds was a character of simple words and thoughts but of strong principles. It is the simplicity of his words that carry such weight.

His words brought back memories of another man with strong principles and simple faith. When I was in college, Tim Tebow was still playing for the Gators, appearing in the news now and then for the same reasons as he does now, only with much less hullabaloo concerning whether or not he could throw a pass. The only people who seemed to care about him were residents of Florida and Christian females who thought he was the next best thing to Starbucks. I even remember the day a rumor flew around campus that Tim Tebow was engaged – we discussed whether or not to wear black.

If Tim Tebow got a dollar for every time his name is mentioned in our house, he’d be twice as wealthy as he is now. There isn’t a dinner goes by without his name being mentioned, whether for theological example or lighthearted jest. There are some who tease us, some who make fun of us for him – but to be persecuted for the sake of Tebow? Totally worth it.

In all seriousness, Tim Tebow is something of a well-timed hero in our home. With my two brothers aged ten and going on sixteen, it’s hard to find present day role models for them to look up to. It seems you can find theologians with the spiritual strength to be admired, athletes with the masculine skill boys desire, scientists and businessmen with the motivation so rarely seen – but very, very few men who combine all of these things. It is difficult enough to find them in day to day life; how much more so in the spotlight of national media. It was Tim Tebow’s book that first developed him into the invisible guest at every family dinner. My brother’s admiration for him, my parents’ approval of his character, and my sisters’ hope to find a man like him someday all spring from an enduring quality we all recognize in him: complete humility.

I wondered how a blog post by me, about Tim Tebow, would be perceived. I am sure there are a few folks who will joke that I wrote this because I’m one of the swarming homeschooled Christian women who harbor a  hope Timmy will find his way to the top of this peninsula, but that is far from the truth. I write about Tim Tebow because he is an inspiration to young men and women alike. He is an inspiration to me. 

As a Christian young woman, when I look at Tim Tebow I don’t see an NFL athlete with a funky passing arm and cute smile. I don’t see his fame, his wealth, or even his background. I look at Tim Tebow and see qualities in him that I would look for in any young man: qualities of enduring value, the most significant of which is humility.

Philippians 2 says,

“Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant…”

I’ve watched the press conferences where Tebow has every opportunity to defend his less-than-stellar performances in past games, or to emphasize his underdog comebacks as in the miraculous overtime win against the Steelers. Yet, under every circumstance such as these he continues to first, glorify God for the victory and second, draw attention to his teammates and their success. He consistently counts others as more significant than himself.

Look at how he invites the wounded, the hurting, the injured, the maimed, to be a part of his life. Read the articles and stories of people he visited in the hospital or bought tickets to a game. Find the article about the wheelchair bound girl he took to the formal event he attended, when women nationwide throw themselves at him with unprecedented shamelessness. He could have every form of attention or worldly glorification and he chooses humility. 

Tim Tebow shows a character that is consistently in submission to the standards of Jesus Christ. What more do Christian young women look for? What more should Christian young men desire for themselves? Separate Tebow from the overt attention that the world gives him and he is still the same person: a man who genuinely seeks to honor Christ with his life.  The way he acts in the spotlight is evidence that his heart is with God, not with man. The humility of Christ pervades his actions.

With so few role models available to men today, and so few examples of godly manhood available to us the ladies, Tim Tebow stands out. He really can’t help it. Those who follow Christ wholeheartedly will always be a city on a hill (Matt. 5:14). When I listen to Tebow, as a woman I am inspired to grow closer to God. I have observed the things he does and the attitudes he cultivates and wondered, “If I met a man like him, would I even be worthy of such character? How can I be a woman more devoted to Christ?”

Conversely, any man who evidences distaste or disrespect for Tim Tebow immediately casts doubt in my mind. What Christian man could find fault with what Tebow does? Outside of athletic ability alone, thus far his character has proven true. If the source of distaste is insecurity due to the size of Tebow’s biceps, a gym and some confidence are quick fixes for that. But a man who resents Tebow’s character most likely shows a great lack of the same in his own life.

It comes down to simple things, just like Mr. Deeds said. People today work very hard at living, but they forget what it means to really live. Tebow has figured that out. In the midst of working hard at living, he still remembers that life wraps around more than just the football field; it holds within its short-lived embrace many hurting and needy people. He has not forgotten them in the midst of this sphere of attention and criticism. Have we?

“He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?”  (Micah 6:8)

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