Rumor has it that Peyton Manning is going to retire.

At least that’s what actor (and major Colts fan) Rob Lowe has heard.

If and when this does happen, it will be a huge loss for the Colts and the NFL.

Peyton Manning has been a supreme example of athletic excellence, hard work, determination, integrity and grace.

Yet it is clear, after the Colts went a dismal 2 and 14 this season (a league worst) that they had put too much of their stock in a healthy Manning.

For those of us who follow football even a little bit, we likely know that there were still a number of ‘big names’ on both the offensive and defensive side of the ball for the Colts this year, but without Manning at the helm… they simply weren’t able to figure out how to make things happen.

A disappointing year for sure… but the loss of Manning for good would be a heart-breaker!

And all this got me to thinking about the work we do with students — and the pressure that we can often feel to ‘shoulder’ the ministry ourselves — or even the seduction of the spotlight, and adoration of students, that can lead to a ‘personality-driven’ ministry.

For me, it begs the question…

If I (we) were to step away from this ministry today, would it continue on without missing much of a beat? 

OR

Would the ministry begin to slowly (or even quickly) unravel — leaving behind it a wake of confusion, devastation and/or destruction?

The reality is that Manning did not intend to get injured.

And after receiving the prognosis… and enduring a couple of unimaginable neck surgeries, all signs (from Manning) seemed to point to an eminent return. So if he goes — if he does retire now — we can all rest assured that this was not the departure from football that he had intended.

Our reality… we don’t know when the Lord might call us to move on.

Or when circumstances may make it impossible to stay where we are.

So while we’re in our current roles… are there some ways we can/should tend to this reality — and make sure that when (don’t be mistaken, it’s a ‘when’ for all of us) we do leave the ministries that we’re a part of, will we have invested so much of our time, energy and prayer in the right ways, and in the right places… that it will indeed carry on well without us.

Yes. Well without us.

What do you think?

How do you deal with the temptation to be overly essential to the ministry you’re a part of?

Have you established any checks and balances to ensure that your ministry doesn’t become too ‘personality-driven?’

What other lessons do you see in this scenario unfolding in Indianapolis?

With the worst record in the league this year, the Colts have secured the #1 pick in the upcoming draft. They will undoubtedly pick a quarterback to come in and attempt to fill the vacancy that Manning will (today, or someday) leave.

But I wonder if they might do things a little differently this time around…