A TIME TO KNEEL
/A TIME TO KNEEL
By: Chris Amos
At this writing, 24-year-old Buffalo Bills defensive back Damar Hamlin is in stable but critical condition at a hospital in Cincinnati, following a hit in a “Monday Night Football” game against the Bengals. Medical staff worked on Hamlin for several minutes on the field before transporting him to the hospital. The Bills reported he suffered cardiac arrest following the hit. Thank God, professional help was only yards away. Lord willing, at the time you read this, we will have heard the great news of Damar’s release from the hospital and prognosis of a full recovery, with or without football in his future.
This incident should once again remind us of just how fragile life is. Like a morning mist, it’s here and then just that quickly it’s gone.
I tuned in to ESPN Tuesday morning for any updates concerning Damar’s condition. Having nothing new to report on that front, the many talking heads repeatedly emphasized how difficult this incident was on Damar’s teammates and fellow NFL players. I heard several state they had never experienced anything like this during their careers. There was agreement across the board that any expectation that the game could resume was ludicrous. After all, many said, and rightly so, football was a game, a multibillion-dollar game, but a game nonetheless. The belief that Damar’s teammates could be mentally ready to re-engage in a game of controlled collisions and violence after having witnessed medical personnel fight to save a young man, a friend, an NFL brother’s life, was ridiculous. It wasn’t going to happen. End of story.
I agree 100% with what the anchors, former players, coaches, doctors and everyone else had to say. Damar’s life and health was of far greater importance than the #1 seed in the AFC or anything else NFL-related. One analyst reminded the audience: The next time a member of your fantasy team doesn’t produce, or a player on your favorite team underperforms, think twice before you lash out at them on social media. These are men who have given their lives in pursuit of their dreams. They do the best they can, and have the broken bones, the nicks, the bruises, the concussions, and the like to prove their willingness and desire to give everything they have for the team, their teammates, their community. So how about cutting them some slack?
The irony of this moment is that many of these sharing their heartfelt sentiments in support of Damar specifically, but the NFL in general, were so quick to throw another group of men and women under the bus in 2020. Who might that group be? The men and women of law enforcement who have given their lives while also in pursuit of their dreams. They do the best they can, and have the broken bones, the nicks, the bruises, the concussions and the like to prove their willingness and desire to give everything they have for the team, their teammates, their community. These are men and women who have stood over injured teammates. For many they have, tragically, had to place sheets over their lifeless teammate’s bodies. In fact, just 5½ hours before Damar’s medical emergency, one such teammate was shot in the head and killed, his teammate was wounded. His name was Justin McIntire.
In 2014, I stood by a dear friend and teammate and watched as surgeons cracked his chest and began to manually massage his heart in a desperate attempt to save his life. They were unsuccessful. I watched as my friend’s teammates arrived at the emergency room and once news of his tragic death spread, many of those teammates went back to work. Others were never able to respond to the hospital as they remained working at the very scene where two of their teammates were shot, one fatally.
I would simply ask of those who have platforms like ESPN and others, the next time a police officer doesn’t perform as expected or even required by law, please, please, please do not be so quick to attack an entire vocation because of the actions of a few. The next time you encounter a police officer who seems to be dismissive or indifferent, perhaps maybe just maybe, he or she just left the scene in which one of their teammates was seriously injured or worse. I think this world would be a much better place to live in if we all practiced the art of giving each other some slack.
As for Damar Hamlin, here’s to praying he is touched by the great physician, Jesus Christ, and makes a speedy and full recovery.
Chris Amos is a retired officer and former spokesperson for the Norfolk Virginia Police Department. He is currently the pastor at Chr1st Fellowship Church in Norfolk. He is married for over 30 years and is the proud father of three children, two of whom are police officers. He serves as the volunteer Chaplain for Norfolk Police Dept. and Norfolk Sheriff’s Office.
