What comes to mind when you hear the word "catalyst"? A short cut? A dynamic experience? A transformative idea? The ancient roots of this word comes from a verb that means to unloose, to set free. Think of a horse hemmed in a barn stall. A catalyst would be an open door. This week, both of our guests today had dreams involving football. Both, however, had other gifts and talents they would see come to the fore, and realized that the disappointing situations and tough choices that happened to them while on the way to their dreams were catalysts for broader horizons with bigger pastures.

Dr. Myron Rolle is a neurosurgeon who has traveled the world; making it a better place using primarily his gifts, as he puts it,  "from the neck up."  By choosing a path toward medicine, Myron’s football dreams were cut short, but was able to see the wisdom in having his dream diverted. Inquiros "Inky" Johnson nearly died while playing football, but the spiritual mentoring he received during his years at the University of Tennessee set him on course to be a motivational speaker who uses his platform to travel the world and make it a better place, too.

 

Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned:

Jesus Calling Podcast

Jesus Calling

Jesus Always

Jesus Listens

Past interview: Jason Brown

Upcoming interview: Jodi Benson

 

Dr. Myron Rolle

The 2% Way

Proverbs 29 NIV

Habitat for Humanity

Princeton University 

Senator Bill Bradley

Rhodes Scholarship

Bobby Bowden

Luke 10:20 NIV

Florida State 

human mesenchymal stem cell research 

 

Inquiros "Inky" Johnson

University of Tennessee

Fitzgerald Field

brachial plexus

James Mitchell

www.inkyjohnson.com

 

Interview Quotes:

“[Our family] had to stick together. We had to lean on each other, to lean on our relationship with Christ. And if we did that, then maybe success would follow.” - Dr. Myron Rolle

"I'd be a student first, an athlete second, [but FSU promised] to grow me as a leader, as a Christian, as a man, and eventually as a role model." - Dr. Myron Rolle

"One thing that Coach Bowden said was that he was excited about his players getting into the NFL. But he's more proud and more pressed to see all of his players’ names written in the Lamb's Book of Life and joining him in heaven one day." - Dr. Myron Rolle

"I knew that football had an expiration date. If I had my way, I would not have had it as early. But again, it worked out how it did. And it is a blessing to be able to be in this field now, waking up every day, doing surgery, helping patients in the hospital, teaching young medical students." - Dr. Myron Rolle

“My junior year, the second game, 2006, September 9th, I went to make a routine tackle. It ended my career, and it changed my life forever. I thought I was in a bad dream. I didn't think my career would not only end that day, I didn't think I would be left with a paralyzed right arm a