Tim Tebow is moving in a different direction; this week the former Heisman Trophy winner announced his retirement.
“I loved every minute of the journey, but at this time I feel called in other directions,” Tebow said in a statement. “I never want to be partially in on anything. I always want to be 100 percent in on whatever I choose. Thank you again for everyone’s support of this awesome journey in baseball, I’ll always cherish my time as a Met.”
Tebow, the professional baseball player, never went beyond the Triple-A level. His impact, however, is much more than just an attempt to reach the Majors.
If I polled ten of my friends or associates on who is Tim Tebow, eight of them will likely think first of the football player. It is, after all, where we all became familiar with Tebow Time.
For as great a college football player Tebow was at the University of Florida, it never fully panned out in the NFL. But still, I admired his unwavering belief in himself.
He went to the NFL and was criticized or mocked on everything from his throwing ability as a quarterback to his unconditional faith and religious beliefs.
Still, as much as some of us just sat around waiting for Tebow Time to fade away, he continued pursuing his dreams, sidestepping the haters, and exceeding expectations along the way.
When Tebow’s time in the NFL appeared to have reached its final yard, he sought out a new chapter for himself as an athlete. At 29 years old, he signed a minor-league deal with the Mets. In typical Tebow Time fashion, he hit a home run in his first professional at-bat.
While Tebow’s baseball career fell one base short of reaching the Major Leagues, I think back to a quote from him after holding a showcase workout for nearly every Major League team – looking just for one team to provide an opportunity to pursue a goal.
“The goal would be to have a career in the big leagues,” Tebow said after the showcase, according to MLB.com. “That’s the goal, right? And then the pursuit of it is to give everything you have and be the best you can and give everything. I want to be someone that pursues what I believe in and what I’m passionate about, and a lot of people will say, ‘Well, what if you fail? What if you don’t make it?’ Guess what? I don’t have to live with regret. I did everything I could. I pushed it. So, I would rather be someone that could live with peace and no regrets than the what-if or being scared of if I didn’t make it.”
Tebow’s goal of reaching the big leagues fell short, but that’s okay. Because it’s the pursuit of his goal which should be applauded. There’s no regret to live with, he can look back with pride that he gave it his all. That’s just as much a source of inspiration.
And this is not the final chapter for him, not by a long shot.
Through his foundation, he’s raised millions for underprivileged and special needs children around the world. He’s currently working to combat human trafficking.
Tebow is more than just a former professional athlete. He’s more than just a Heisman Trophy-winning college football legend. He’s more than just the cheesy Tebow Time pose he had us all emulating.
He’s a goal-setter, ambitious, a philanthropist, and unwavering in his faith.
For me, it’s the unwavering in his faith, it’s that part.
Keep on with fighting the good fight Mr. Tebow, we’ll be watching to see where your journey next takes you.
