You can’t win them all, and if anyone knows that right now, it’s Clark Beckham from Fox’s “American Idol” and any member of the Seattle Seahawks.
Back on Feb. 1, the Seahawks lost Super Bowl XLIX to the New England Patriots in a fourth-quarter nail biter. Then, last Wednesday, two days before his 23rd birthday, Tennessee native Beckham watched Connecticut Catholic-school graduate Nick Fradiani take the prize in “Idol’s” penultimate finale.
I spoke to Beckham a couple of days after the finale, as he was preparing to board a flight to head home and like the previous times we talked, he continued to lean on Christ:
One thing I learned on this journey is a lot of people think the music business and entertainment, and that world, is a hostile environment for people of Christian faith or any type of religious faith, and that’s entirely not true. I’ve learned that a lot of people have faith, and the theme really across the board is that people respect others who are genuine and real.
So, my faith is very real. I don’t just talk the talk; I try my best every day to walk the walk.
Because I have faith, because I stand on the only constant rock, which is God and the Bible, what He promised, I have to believe that what the Bible says is true, that the steps of a righteous man are ordered (from Psalms 37:23). God has a plan for me, not to harm me, but for hope and a future.
He’s got me. He’s in control. So, if I believe that, which I do, I believe that this is, what some people might say, a God thing. If I believe that to be true, then everything is God thing, as long as we are pursuing Him and believing that.
So, I just have the confidence that I’m exactly where I need to be, because this is what the Bible says. That’s what I choose to believe, so it certainly gives a whole new perspective and a light on everything.
The competition ended exactly how it was supposed to be, and I choose to believe that. It was perfect for me, perfect for Nick, perfect for Jax and Rayvon and Tyanna and Joey and Quentin and everybody. It went down just how it needed to. I”m just very excited about the future for all of us.
Beckham also got to perform his original song “Champion” on the show:
The lyrics have spiritual overtones, but it’s not an overtly Christian song — and Beckham meant it that way.
My faith informs my work; it doesn’t design it necessarily, and it doesn’t limit it. I’m not called to sing contemporary Christian music or gospel music. There’s nothing wrong with those things. I listen to that music, and people are called to that, without a doubt, but I’m not. I believe that I’m not.
I’m just going to keep singing songs about the world I see, through these eyes.”
Then, a couple of days ago, I saw a Tweet from Seahawks wide receiver — and Christian — Doug Baldwin, Jr.
I wasn’t having a good day and needed a boost, so it inspired this exchange.
I got nobody to thank but God.. Blessed
— Doug Baldwin Jr (@DougBaldwinJr) May 16, 2015
@KateOH Then you keep praying and have faith that God has something in store for you. Meanwhile be thankful for the air you breathe
— Doug Baldwin Jr (@DougBaldwinJr) May 16, 2015
Good advice all around.
Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In