What Do We Value?

I am working my way through Too Small to Ignore, and I came upon a quote that addresses something that has bothered me for a long time. Wess Stafford writes:

"In our [modern] society, when a guy flips a basketball through a ten-foot-high hoop can make as much money in three hours as a school teacher, who is shaping the lives of the next generation, does in a year, something is horribly wrong with our values."

I could not agree more. And it's tough to agree with that statement, especially being the fan of sports that I am. I have seen the breakdowns for athletes who make over $20 million a year. The amount they make per game is just sickening. These athletes have talents and gifts that few of us have. So many of us enjoy seeing those gifts in action that we allow them to get paid an incredible amount of money to do it. And I suppose those chosen few with the right skills deserve to be paid for those skills.

There is no National Football League or Major League Baseball for teachers. Our most talented and gifted teachers don't necessarily get paid much more than other teachers and certainly don't get the same recognition. Yet teachers do some critical work in the formation of our children. How does this happen? I suppose athletes are the business of entertainment. People want to pay (and pay they do) to see them in action. Watching a teacher could be exciting, but most likely not to the same degree.

This may read funny coming from someone who appreciates what a capitalistic system does for us. Even with its flaws, it's a system that I believe works...and works well. I applaud any athlete that I read about that is willing to take some of their money and give it back to the community. Hey...live a good life, and put some money away for the part of your life when you can't be an athlete anymore. Not enough athletes are sound financial planners. But, with what's left...what do you need with it? What are you going to do with your $250 million contract?

Imagine all of the good that could be done with that money if they made some serious donations. I am not calling for socialism. Not at all. I am also not asking for them to be taxed more. What I am asking is that those who make way more money than they really need should share of their own accord.

When athletes are interviewed after a great performance in a game, they often thank God for giving them the abilities that they have. Well, that's good...and I applaud that. It was God that gave them that talent that they developed. How about you take on God's call to love your neighbor and take some of the million dollar salary and give it back to those in need. I know many athletes give to charities and many give quite a bit of money. But, you can't tell me there isn't a little more to give.

Please understand, we all could probably stand to give more to charity...I am no exception. But, it is my wish and my prayer that athletes, entertainers and others could see it in their hearts to take their blessings and be a blessing to others.