research and treatment. As Pagano’s
inspiring story caught on, players,
cheerleaders, and fans shaved their
heads to show their support for the
beloved head coach, who had lost his
hair during chemo. Millions of dollars
were raised as the movement spread
across the country and throughout
the NFL. What had first appeared to
cripple the team became the unifying
factor that made them stronger as
they inspired so many others battling
cancer.
work or school and back home again,
what drives you? What gets you out of
bed in the morning and causes you to
greet the day with joy instead of dread?
We are all driven people, but when push
comes to shove, not all of us are driven
by our faith. When the storm begins
to churn around you, when the police
call in the middle of the night or the
accidental email gets sent, when the
account is overdrawn or the friendly
smile becomes seductive, your faith
will be tested.
In those moments you will be driven
either by drama or by destiny.
When the storm breaks in your life, you
will be driven by either
• the past or the future
• the pathetic or the prophetic
• problems or promises
• nightmares or dreams
• the flesh or the Spirit
• Google searches or godly churches
• the drama of the storm or God’s
destiny for your life
Coach Pagano grew stronger and went
on to defeat the cancer that once
threatened his life. By the end of the
season, he was able to return to the
sidelines, and the following season,
he went back to his job full time.
His rookie year was not what he had
expected, but throughout his entire
battle, he never allowed himself to be
defined by the cancer.
Day to day, as you go from home to
52 • Solutions
I learned this lesson early in life. As I
mentioned, I grew up in a very healthy,
loving Christian family, but that didn’t
mean my life was easy—far from it.
I’ll never forget sitting in the guidance
counselor’s office my freshman year in
high school in the Lehigh Valley area
between Philadelphia and Allentown.
The purpose of our meeting was to
discuss my vocational direction and