Steve Gleason and the Pro-Life Movement: No White Flags

Steve Gleason, a former safety for the NFL’s New Orleans Saints, held the audience spellbound inside Los Angeles’ Dolby Theatre on Thursday night at the annual ESPY Awards.

Yet, wheelchair bound, he couldn’t move or even open his mouth.

Established by ESPN to recognize and celebrate individual and team athletic achievement, the festivities have seemed to generate the most headlines when lauding the character and endurance of its award recipients off the playing field.

Just two months before he died of cancer, college basketball coach Jim Valvano struggled to make it up the stairs of the stage and barely made it back down. But his speech that night continues to garner views on YouTube and is played in locker rooms all over.

“Cancer can take away all my physical abilities,” Coach Valvano said that night back in 1993. “It cannot touch my mind, it cannot touch my heart and it cannot touch my soul. And those three things are going to carry on forever.”

Steve Gleason doesn’t have cancer, but he was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS or Lou Gehrig’s disease) in 2011. In the years since, Steve’s been a public advocate for finding a cure for the debilitating and deadly condition.

Accompanied by his son, Rivers, Gleason sat before those gathered on Thursday night in his wheelchair on the Dolby Theatre stage. Despite having lost his voice to ALS, he was able to deliver his acceptance speech thanks to an incredible technology called “Voice Banking.”

Before Steve Gleason lost his ability to speak years ago, he was able to record enough words as to allow a synthetic or digital voice to relay whatever he wants to now say. He uses his eyes to interface with the software.

As those in the auditorium sat still, many with tears streaming down their faces, Steve urged:

“If we can courageously share our fears and limitations with each other and compassionately collaborate to solve our problems, our human potential is boundless,” he said. “If we can listen, understand, and help alleviate each other’s suffering, truly all things are possible.”

Steve Gleason, who was raised in Catholic schools in Spokane, Washington, rededicated his life to the Lord back in 2015. He said this physical ordeal has caused him to reevaluate his priorities and commitments.

“I have moments where I miss my old self,” the former NFL standout acknowledges. “But I think anyone can get caught up in what we used to have. But at the same time, we can choose to focus on the beauty of now.”

In addition to his faith, the “beauty” of Steve’s now includes his wife, Michel, and their children, Rivers and daughter, Gray.

That you could hear a pin drop inside the Dolby Theatre reflects the respect and admiration of the diverse audience honoring and cheering on Steve. It’s heartwarming to see such a universal outpouring, a recognition for the value of life regardless of a person’s physical limitations.

Imagine if there were a similar respect and commitment regarding every other person – whether those still in the womb or those in the twilight of their lives.

Scripture is crystal clear that every life is sacred. “So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them” (Gen. 1:26-27).

Steve was given just three years to live back in 2011.

“It’s not going to be easy, but it’s going to be awesome,” he said. “Awesome ain’t easy.” He also added: “There will be no white flags.”

Steve Gleason has kept his promise. As Christians, especially, we have a similar obligation to never surrender in the fight to protect every life. When it comes to the pro-life effort, there will be no white flags.

Image credit ESPN.