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Thursday (Jupiter's Day), July 9, 2009

Steve McNair, Titan Falls To Earth

A lot of folks know that I've called Nashville, TN home for the past 30 years - and so many have been expecting me to write about the death of Steve McNair.

If you don't live in the Middle Tennessee area, then you likely won't "get it" when I tell you that we are a city in mourning over the death of former NFL Titan franchise quarterback Steve McNair. If you don't live in Middle Tennessee, all that likely interests you is the tragic way that his life ended.

In order to come a little closer to getting a clue as to why myself, Nashville, and the Middle Tennessee area are in mourning - you have to first of all understand that as an "NFL town" we're relatively speaking still very young.

When the former Houston Oilers first came to Tennessee in the Fall of 1997 it was quarterback Steve McNair that was to slowly evolve and grow (with a few bumps along the way) into the face of the franchise.

In the 1999 season when the team's name was changed from Oilers to the Titans, simultaneously moving into a brand new stadium in downtown Nashville, Steve and the rest of the Titans took us to the Superbowl. In the years that followed we became prouder and prouder that we had the hands down toughest quarterback in the NFL.

At the same time, the introverted - but people friendly Aquarian Sun, Cancer Moon, and (likely) Pisces Ascendant - McNair became an amiable and beloved fixture in the community.

Granted... all NFL players are expected by their teams and by the league to participate in local community charities and efforts, but it soon became apparent that McNair and his genuine love for children went far and beyond what was expected of him.

I'm not ready to write about the astrology behind what has happened... and for that matter I might never be ready.

For now I'll simply pass on to you the scriptural story that Steve's pastor, Bishop Joseph Walker, shared earlier at Steve's memorial tonight:

John 8:1-9 (New International Version)

But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. At dawn he appeared again in the temple courts, where all the people gathered around him, and he sat down to teach them. The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group and said to Jesus, "Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?" They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him.

But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, "If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her." Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground.

At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there.

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