Some good words here from our friends at the Sports Chaplains Network:
If you are in a hurry zip to 5:20 of the video. Here “The Worm” talks about a father that left him. From my perspective his whole speech was basically “I need a father!” He mentions coaches/men that if rolled into one would be a perfect dad. Dennis thanks his wife for raising his three children in attendance by herself and admits he is a terrible father himself. He doesn’t thank his Mom but truthfully admits she never showed him much love and he resented her most of his life.
He ends with a regret and a wish. The regret – “I
wish I was a better father.” The wish – “I want to be a good individual, father and son in the future.”
My heart breaks for him. He is an orphan that acts like an orphan. He used what he can get his hands in excess because he is filling a void.
Orphans do not sleep well because the are wondering if they will have bread the next day. So in the orphanages in Europe after the wars there the wise care-givers would put a loaf of bread under the pillows. Then the children would sleep knowing they have a meal the next day.
From my perspective, Dennis is an orphan in need of a father, a heavenly Father. His pain is obvious. He hurts and hurts others.