Age of Immediacy

I am not one to get very emotional, but the day that Kobe Bryant died I can honestly say it affected me. I’m not sure why exactly. I never knew the man, and would certainly never lay eyes on him, but I grew up a huge basketball fan. When I returned to my room after church that Sunday, I opened up my computer and began to write. Below is what my heart and head put on the page.

“In an age/ generation of immediacy where fads end as quickly as they begin, the news of Kobe Bryant’s passing echoes with such finality. We bounce from news story to news story. We flip through and process social media posts in seconds. Our taste for depth is drowned out in the shallow nature of pop culture. But this morning when Kobe Bryant boarded a private helicopter with his beloved 13-year old daughter, Gianna, their fates were sealed. The human nature looks at this situation and asks “why?”. Kobe’s past was filled with sin, and his future would be no different, but wasn’t the story of his life supposed to be different? Aren’t legends supposed to go out differently? Sports stars are heralded as celebrities not just in America, but across the globe. That may rub certain people the wrong way. “Just because they can run faster, jump higher, and endure longer than me doesn’t make them better than me. Why do they get to have such a cushy life?” The NBA community thrives on player- coach, player-player, player-owner drama and many other combinations. This frustrates casual and non-fans alike. But Kobe’s death meant something more. Love the NBA or hate the NBA, we are all NBA fans tonight.

I was introduced to the NBA when I was in 8thgrade. (2008) I remember watching sportscenter for the first time, and LeBron James was being interviewed. I was born in Ohio and live across the Ohio River in West Virginia. As I watched this interview, I put together rather quickly that this player was something special.  As I learned more and my knowledge of the league grew, I became aware of another player. A player that some considered to be the great rivalry of our current NBA Generation. That player was Kobe Bryant. With a killer mentality, Kobe ran, scored, and won better than most NBA athletes in history. Unfortunately, the dream NBA Finals between James’ Cleveland Cavaliers and Bryant’s Lakers never happened. Kobe Bryant retired in 2018 in classic Kobe fashion. He scored 60 points and fans were screaming just as loud as they cheered amidst each of his 5 NBA championships. Love them or hate them, we are all Lakers fans tonight. 

Sunday January 25, 2020. News broke that Kobe “Bean” Bryant had tragically died in a helicopter crash. Confusion gave way to disbelief which gave way to denial. How? Why? How? Condolences and grief began to pour out from fans and admirers. Past rivalries were put aside as fans from every team, fans of basketball, united around the life and memory of Kobe Bryant. As a Christian, I look at this situation through different glasses. That crash didn’t just end the clump of cells that we referred to as Kobe Bryant. His life wasn’t an accident, or a purposeless endeavor. He has a reason to be in this life. He had a Creator who formed Him and knew Him. Though his life didn’t point to a life surrendered to Jesus Christ and His eternal mission. He played a role in that story, nevertheless. My heart breaks for the tragedy that is the death of Kobe, his daughter, and the others in the crash. But the heartbreak is worse knowing that their opportunities to repent and turn to Christ are over. Over. Did Kobe raise his daughter to respect God and study His Word? I do not know. But those opportunities are over. How does a Christian process the loss of people he never knew, and people he would never meet? I feel the emptiness of souls fading into eternity. I feel a renewed vigor to strengthen my relationship with Christ, His Word, and His Church.  I will look back at the life of Kobe Bryant with happiness, and a smile. He was a great competitor who entertained millions for four decades on and off the basketball court. What a privilege to witness such feats of athleticism. I will also take his passing and allow it to push me closer to my God. I do not know how much time I have left, but I know why I am on this earth: to bring glory to God. So, thank you Kobe Bryant. Thank you for the lessons you taught me about hard work, effort, determination, and commitment. I will seek to take those lessons and improve every aspect of my life, not for my glory, but for my Savior’s. I don’t know how you feel about sports, or basketball. I don’t know how you feel about Kobe. Love him or hate him, we are all Kobe Bryant fans tonight.”

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