“Pleasant words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body.” –Proverbs 16:24
To say that John Saunders was a legend of sports broadcasting is to put it mildly. The 30-year veteran of ESPN has been a part of my sports world since I can remember. He was an active part of so many sports that I enjoy, including college football, college basketball, baseball. His voice and on-screen presence was a tremendous part of the programing of ESPN. Sadly, John Saunders passed away this week at the age of 61. He was much too young.
Although John Saunders passed away at an early age, he left a deep and meaningful impression on so many people in this world. As news of his passing became public, people from all walks of life began to publicly offer their condolences and remembrances. Sports stars, co-workers, celebrities, friends and family all began to express how they were going to miss him. It was obvious to me, a person who only knew him through the television, that he made a positive impact on many people and it was not simply due to his on-air talent. Quote after quote came out during the day praising John Saunders not only for his professional life, but his kindness to everyone he worked with and met. Not only was he successful in work, he was successful in his relationships because of his kindness.
John Saunders was an amazing talent. He was able to cover so many sports and host a variety of programs for ESPN and ABC. There is no doubt that he will be remembered for his presence and talent in sports broadcasting. He will also be remembered for his compassion and kindness to everyone he worked with. As I read more about this person whom I had watched on TV for so long, I was blessed to learn that he was as well know for his kindness to others, both personally and professionally. This revelation led me to question, how am I viewed by others? How do I treat others? I work hard to be productive in my career, but do I work equally as hard to treat everyone I work with well? I hope today we will all take a moment to reflect on this important question. Each day and each person in our life is a gift from God. How we treat one another during that day is our gift to them.
Rev. Keith King, Online Campus Pastor
