THE ABUNDANT LIFE
April 2002

Dear Sons,

Your mother and I attended the funeral of Dr. Al Jacobs recently, and for some reason I feel compelled to tell you about it.

You see, Dr. Jacobs never made national news. He wasn't a topic of statewide media. He was rarely mentioned by local media . . . no more so than an average citizen.

But more than 800 people attended his funeral. Eight hundred! Movie stars, millionaires and statesmen have not seen the outpouring of respect and gratitude that was given Dr. Jacobs.

I sat in awe among the 800. No words would need to be spoken for me to know this was some man.

When all those who had been Dr. Jacobs' students at Michigan State University and all those who had been players on high school sports team for which he was team physician were asked to stand, hundreds of people rose to their feet.

Each of you, like hundreds of thousands of young men and women, is at crossroads in your life. Do I stay in teaching and coaching? Do I go to seminary? Do I take this life path or that?

There are professions that pay better than teaching and preaching, than education and ministry; but it's not often in higher paying professions that people return to you in 10, 20 or 30 years and say, "Thanks, you made a difference." How much is that worth?

Fifty years after coaching an undefeated high school football season, your grandpa was honored at a reunion of his players last fall and asked by the 2001 coach to give the pregame pep talk, and the team scored on its first play from scrimmage! How much is that worth?

The old saw, "You can't take it with you," is true. You can't take the possessions with you to the next life. All you can do is leave influence behind. Like Dr. Jacobs. Like your grandpa. Like great teachers and coaches, great ministers and missionaries.

At this crossroads, choose service over stuff. Choose giving over gathering. Then quietly just do your very best. Someday, more people than you can imagine will leap to their feet to honor your name and memory. As the advertising slogan goes, "It's not the hands you shake, it's the lives you touch."

Love, Dad

--MHSAA Executive Director Jack Roberts