Focusing Vigorously on the Wrong Thing

   One of my favourite shows is "A Football Life" which is on the NFL network. Each episode profiles a player or coach. A few weeks ago the subject was Doug Flutie. For those of you who don't know who he is, he played for the Canadian Football League from 1990 to 1997 and in the NFL from 1986-1989 and 1998-2005. He is best known for his "Hail Mary" pass in 1984 that gave his college team a win over Miami. (A Hail Mary is a long forward pass usually thrown in desperation. Players joke that you throw the ball up and then pray.)
  The show focused on one of Flutie's physical features and how it affected his career. That feature was his size. He is 5 feet 9 and 3/4 inches tall. This is normal height for men, but short for a football player.
  He started out in college being one of several quarterbacks on the Boston College team. He moved his way up to starter. Because of his height or lack of it, it was assumed that he wouldn't be able to play well. Once he was given the chance he led his team to a string of wins earning many awards along the way.
  Once he got out of college he was drafted into the NFL only to spend most of his time on the bench. Despite the fact that he could play and play well, it seem like the only number that mattered was 5 feet 9.75 inches.
  He moved to the CFL where his height wasn't so much of an issue. He won three Grey Cups (the equivalent of the Lombardi Trophy here) and was considered one of the best players in the league. He was inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame.
  He came back to the United States and signed with the Buffalo Bills. Even though he had an impressive career in Canada, it didn't convince many in the NFL. Although he demonstrated that he could make plays and win games he was benched or considered second string.
   No one seemed to notice his ability to scramble, to throw accurately and to run when needed. No one noticed that he was difficult to tackle and that he could make big plays. Everyone was focused vigorously on one thing, his height.
   I think that's what we do sometimes. We focus vigorously on the wrong thing. We pay more attention to what a person lacks. Too short, foo fat, too old. Not quite the right look, not talented enough, wears glasses, not outgoing enough. Not rich enough, not from the right part of town, not smart enough.
  We're so busy looking for flaws that we don't look for strengths. What can this person do? What gifts do they have?
   Why do we do this? Why is our focus on what isn't instead of what is? I just don't get it.
    On the show they played a clip of an interview of Doug Flutie while he was in the NFL. He was asked how he would be able to play at his size. His answer was that he had always played football at his size and that he doesn't know how to play any differently. He took what he had been given in the way of football talent and made the most of it.
   He takes the same attitude with his son, Dougie. Dougie was diagnosed with autism at age three. Instead of focusing on what Dougie can't do, they focus on what he can do and what he is. One of the things Flutie said about his son is that he lights up a room and enjoys being around people.
  We could all learn a lesson from this. Look at the whole person instead of one part. Find the strengths instead of the weaknesses. Look for the gifts and not the flaws. Focus vigorously on the right things.