Well, love them or hate them, the New England Patriots are a fantastic football team.  They have just completed a perfect regular season, the first team in NFL history to go 16-0 before the playoffs.  In the meantime, they have set records for most points scored, most touchdowns and a host of others.            

          The hub of the Patriots’ machine is quarterback Tom Brady. The former Michigan quarterback is blessed with movie star looks, dates super-models, and is a ferocious, focused competitor and on-field leader.  He is the quintessential golden boy-and people are fascinated by what makes him tick.

            But last week, in a 60 Minutes interview with Steve Kroft, Brady pulled back the curtain and gave us a glimpse of his heart.  In the private moments when he’s not studying game film, practicing pass patterns, filming another commercial or working an endorsement,, Tom Brady wonders about his soul.  Listen to this:

            “Why do I have three Super Bowl rings and still think there’s something greater out there for me? I mean, maybe a lot of people would say, ‘Hey man, this is what is.’ I reached my goal, my dream, my life. Me, I think, ‘God, it’s got to be more than this.’ I mean this isn’t, this can’t be what it’s all cracked up to be.”

When Kroft asked him, “What’s the answer?” Brady responded, “I wish I knew. I wish I knew. I love playing football and I love being quarterback for this team. But at the same time, I think there are a lot of other parts about me that I’m trying to find.”

He obviously doesn’t know it, but Tom Brady is looking for Jesus.  Jesus is the more and greater.  Jesus is the answer to the longings of his soul.  The same Lord who has placed eternity in the hearts of men (Eccl. 3:11) is signalling that there are other parts about Tom that need to be found. In reality, what needs to be found is a who.  Tom needs to be found by Jesus; he is the lost son the Father seeks, the lost sheep the Shepherd would give everything to bring home, rejoicing.  (Luke 15:3-7, 11-24)

Pray that Tom’s life will be intersected by passionate Christians who will love him and clearly articulate the gospel of Jesus so that he will be found by Jesus.