Yesterday my first son, Jack, was born at 1:15 PM, which is a great day for a Piper boy to be born. See, May 19 holds special significance for me because of two men who played formative roles in my life at different times and in (very) different ways.
On May 19, 1976 Kevin Garnett was born in Greenville, SC (coincidentally but unrelatedly, the same town where my dad grew up). In 1995 KG was drafted by the Minnesota Timberwolves. I was a sports-crazy 12-year-old Minneapolis kid, which means I was ripe for the capturing of heart, affections, fandom, and loyalty. And he did it.
KG was big in every way–7 feet tall (although perpetually listed at 6’11” so as not to be seen as a slow, plodding center), magnetic smile, charismatic, effervescent, loud, eloquent, fierce, and more than occasionally profane. His mouth never quit and neither did his competitiveness. He was a basketball savant who endeared himself to the fans of a beleaguered (read: perpetually horrendous) franchise and gave us hope. He respected his teammates. He respected the game. He gave everything he had in every practice and every game. He tested the limits of opponents, referees, and rules. And he dragged the Wolves to heights of competitiveness not seen before or since (until this year). He was a real life legend who in a very real way shaped my childhood and is, to this day, my favorite basketball player ever.
On May 19, 2023 pastor Tim Keller passed away from cancer in New York City. He was the founding pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church and the author of numerous books, of which it would be difficult for me to pick a favorite. Tim did not loudly and charismatically burst onto the scene of my life (I daresay I’m unaware of him loudly or charismatically doing anything public) but rather—as he was so gifted at doing—quietly, gently, irrefutably influenced my heart through his writing.
In 2011 I was spiritually exhausted and discouraged and in the throes of the most pronounced crisis of faith I’ve experienced. I read the first of Keller’s books I remember, Counterfeit Gods. It was clear, compelling, kind, inviting, uncompromising about Jesus, and exactly what my soul and mind needed. It called me to rightly ordered loves and loyalties. In the ensuing years, the ministry of Tim Keller continued to encourage, teach, and shape me. He spoke into suffering, work, marriage, and a thousand times over into my understanding and love of Jesus. He modeled Christian charity and courage in the face of opposition. He was unabashedly himself when he preached, not imitating anyone or attempting to be anything other than the man and minister God called him to be. He was massively influential despite (or maybe because of) having no interest in fame or status. Tim Keller was one of the greatest influences on my faith and ministry in my adult life.
There are few obvious similarities between Kevin Garnett and Tim Keller. But I admire both and hope my son follows in the footsteps of both. It’s unlikely he will be an NBA player (YMCA is more likely given the gene pool), but if he has a fraction of KG’s determination, loyalty, attention to craft, and fearlessness he can accomplish great things. But they will only be truly great if he follows in Keller’s footsteps of faith in Christ, devotion to the gospel, courage, humility, diligence, and wisdom.
May 19 will always be celebrated in our home as Jack’s birthday. And each birthday for a few minutes, after cake and presents and various festivities, we can also reflect on the kind of man he can be as we remember the loud life of a basketball legend and the long, steady fruitfulness of mighty man of God.
