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#LoveForDamar by Hannah Clark
On Monday, January 2nd, millions of Americans tuned in to the Monday Night Football game between the Buffalo Bills and the Cincinnati Bengals expecting to see exhilarating football featuring two of the brightest stars in the NFL, Joe Burrow and Josh Allen. However, this game was never finished and a different star shone, but not in the way one would expect. Halfway into the first quarter, Bills Safety Damar Hamlin collided with a Bengals player and collapsed on the field. Hamlin went into cardiac arrest and for nine minutes, Damar had to be resuscitated on the field through the use of CPR and defibrillator. Thankfully, the Bills Athletic Training Staff was able to resume Hamlin’s pulse and he was quickly transported to the nearby hospital, listed in critical condition. The scene was solemn as players and coaches cried for their brother and joined together to pray. This night did not go according to plan, but perhaps God was at work, because what ensued was one of the greatest displays of agape the United States, and the world, has seen in a long time.
Social media for the following week was filled with posts and stories all saying “Prayers for Damar” and “Love for 3”. ESPN analysts prayed on national television for healing and life for Hamlin. There were prayer vigils in Buffalo and Cincinnati, national landmarks and cities were lit up in blue and red to show their support for Damar, and the entire NFL community came together to show their love for Hamlin. Fans across the country and around the world wanted to do their part and donated to Damar’s “Chasing M’s” charity toy drive. The original goal of the drive was $2,500. In about nine days, 8.7 million dollars was raised! Love poured out for this young man that nobody knew personally, but that didn’t matter because a human life is far more precious than any game. After a couple of days, Damar’s condition improved and he was able to return home to Buffalo, amazed at what had happened just because of him.
Yet isn’t that the power of agape love? Agape love, defined by the Britannica Encyclopedia, is the love of one’s fellow humans, as the reciprocal love between God and humans is made manifest in one’s unselfish love of others. The nation rallied around this one life because we recognized how special life is and how important it is to love every human. We unselfishly gave towards his charitable goals and we prayed and prayed for the healing of this one person. Suddenly, football was the last thing people cared about and instead, the focus became ‘what can we do to show love to Damar?’.
Prior to the Bills next game, Damar tweeted out, “It’s GameDay & There’s Nothing I Want More Than To Be Running Out That Tunnel With My Brothers… God Using Me In A Different Way Today! Tell Someone You Love Them Today!” (@d.ham3). The Lord took a scary, life-threatening event and used it to bring the nation together and show us the power of agape. Imagine what He could do with you everyday! Today, I implore you, tell someone you love them and show someone the power of agape. Damar says it best, “When you put real love out into the world it comes back to you 3x’s as much.” Speak love, be love, show love, and be amazed at the difference you can make in the world!
Photo Courtesy of CBS News
Photo Courtesy of NFL.com
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