Pete Maravich had the kind of basketball career few others have ever enjoyed. The somewhat scrawny, mopped topped, and floppy socked Maravich thrilled basketball fans for two decades as he set every record imaginable on his march through High School, College and then the pros. He still holds the college record for career scoring average at an amazing 44.2 points per game, and scored over 60 points four times, all without the benefit of the three-point shot. “Pistol Pete'” achieved All-American status three years in a row while in college, then garnered five NBA All-Star selections as a pro.
Maravich’s personal life, however, posed a much greater challenge to him than scoring points. He struggled with drinking, drugs, and overeating until finally, in his mid thirties, he turned to faith and got his life straightened out.
Maravich died on January 5, 1988 at the age of 40. He had been taking part in a regularly scheduled 3-on-3 basketball game with Dr. James Dobson and others at the First Church of the Nazarene in Pasadena, California. As he walked off the court he spoke his last words; “I feel great”. Moments later he was dead of congenital heart failure.
The press, of course, spoke of the “tragedy” of Maravich’s death and, certainly, I would not argue that 40 is indeed much too young to die. I would argue, however, that there is no tragedy in how he died. Think about it. One moment he declares, “I feel great”, the next moment he is dead, heaven bound.
Pete Maravich’s life – and death – reminds me that there is something to be said about the quality of our life not just the quantity of life. How we live our lives and what we do with our time here on planet earth is far more important than how much time we spend here. We can live long lives well into our 80s, 90s, and even beyond yet never make a difference in the life of another person or do anything to make our corner of the world a better place.
We all desire a reasonable quantity of life. I do. I’m 76 and I hope to be around for a few more years, ‘Lord willing’. But I want those years to matter. I want to know that I’ve invested my life and my resources in noble and worthwhile pursuits.
I realize that there are elements of life that are out of my control, that may create tremendous challenges to my agenda of making a difference. Aging, disease, and injuries can take their toll on our enjoyment of life and even our capacity to function with the energy that we did in our 30s and 40s. The older I get the more I understand that.
I do know, however, that I have today. I have this moment and this heartbeat. I feel pretty good, if not great. I’ve got work to do and people to invest my life in. I want to make sure I live “till the end”.
What more could I ask for?