In the movie Invincible Vince Papale, played by Mark Wahlberg, a 30-year old bartender from South Philadelphia overcomes the long odds of playing for the NFL’s Philadelphia Eagles in 1976. The United States was in a recession with unemployment around 9 percent. This was due to a quadrupling of oil prices by OPEC coupled with high government spending because of the Vietnam War. The period was also followed by the 1973-1974 stock market crash. The period is remarkable for rising unemployment coinciding with rising inflation. (Sound familiar?)
South Philadelphia had something to lift their spirits in the midst of all the chaos that ensued around them. Thirty year old Vince Papale gave them inspiration that brightened the city with new hope for the future. Leaving the woo’s of unemployment behind, the city now had Vince to cheer on and football to stir their minds. However, Vince Papale was fighting his own battle of competition, but was he?
As I watched the movie, I saw the synchronicity in everyday life that’s played out on the field and how much effort it takes to be able to walk out on the field with others cheering you on. Vince had a passion for football without the limitations of his age or what others thought about him. When it came time for the final cut he was humble to throw in the towel but to his amazement coach Dick Vermeil saw the vision within Mark and threw him the key to the field instead.
In the beginning, Vince wasn’t all that receptive on trying out until his friend Tommy had this to say, “Even if you're down there for an hour, you're down there.” This holds true with anything in your life, it doesn’t matter if you make the cut, only that you gave it your best and tried to do something that inspired your spirit. There’s another scene where Vince notices a group of young boys playing football when suddenly the ball is thrown in his cars path. The young boy that runs after the ball reminds Vince of his younger days but what’s more enlightening is the jersey displaying #83, which is Vince’s jersey number. Coincidence? There are times in our lives when we are given reminders that we’re in the flow of following our dreams. It’s when we take notice and push forward with that dream, without looking at the limitations, which tends to hold us back. In the final scene, Vince is seen going to his locker and pulling out a piece of paper. The paper reads, “Vince, You’ll never go anywhere, you’ll never make any money, and you’ll never make a name for yourself.” Vince rips the piece of paper up, throws it down and goes out on the field to win the game. It wasn’t until he threw out the old limited beliefs that he truly saw the vision of what he could accomplish. Run Vince, Run!!
Each of us has dreams, aspirations, intentions, visualizations, or prayers of what we “could” do in life, but most don’t act upon them or see a clear vision of how to make them a reality. Maybe you have acted upon them only to be disappointed or fed up with all the changes that happen along the way. Vince was faced with many challenges along his path to victory on the field that day, but he pushed through without letting others, or a note that he harbored in his pocket, hold him back to the vision he felt within himself.
I use to let others or disappointments hold me back from my vision. While I have my own ups and downs in life, I still push through making my way to a vision that’s stirring within my soul. This vision is what led me to enter the Next Top Spiritual Author competition. You have a vision within your soul that’s pulling you to follow your dreams, aspirations, intentions, visualizations, or prayers. Run out on the field of life and catch your vision. You deserve it!
Kandi Phillips
http://www.LiveYourIntention.com
http://www.AwakenYourSpace.com/
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