Top 7 quotes from NFL QB and Ala. native Philip Rivers’ heartfelt commencement speech

Decatur, Ala. native and current San Diego Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers recently delivered the 125th annual commencement address at the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C.

The devout Catholic, husband and father of seven challenged the graduates to embrace a Latin phrase that he has adopted as his life motto — “Nunc Coepi,” translated “now I begin.” Rivers feels so strongly about the phrase that the Chargers had it printed up on t-shirts and painted on the walls of the team’s facilities.

Rivers shared several anecdotes that explain what the phrase means to him, and how it can have a profound impact on all of our lives, especially this year’s graduates.

Here are the top 7 quotes from Rivers’ speech:

1. In our prayer, in our habits, in our relationships, in our profession. It is applicable to everything. Nunc Coepi. Now I begin. Whether you made a bad grade or didn’t do so well on a project. You must begin again. When I have a bad play or a good play, whether I throw a touchdown or an interception, I must begin again. Nunc Coepi… it certainly applies to you graduates who now are beginning the next chapter in your lives. You now begin. But this is ongoing. You begin again, and again and again. You never give up. Nunc Coepi.

3. What is valuable to you? Avoid regret that comes with chance…Identify what is valuable to you, then prepare and plan to protect it. Nunc Coepi.

4. Christianity, if false, is of no importance, and if true, of infinite importance. The only thing it cannot be is moderately important. (quoting C.S. Lewis)

5. Don’t worry… What good is anxiety about the future? Does it bring you anything but trouble upon trouble? It is foolish and useless to be either grieved or happy about future things which perhaps may never happen. But it is human to be deluded by such imaginations, and the sign of a weak soul to be led on by suggestions of the enemy. For he does not care whether he consumes you by love of the present or fear of the future. Let not your heart be troubled or be afraid. Believe in Me and trust in My mercy. Don’t worry. (Paraphrasing Imitations of Christ)

6. Be thankful. January of 2013, our oldest son, who was 5 years old, was diagnosed with T1 diabetes. Immediately, anguish and sadness and frustration all emerge and as a family, as mom and dad, we felt like it was the end of the world. How would he adjust? What does this mean? How hard will this be? After walking in and out of the children’s hospital and seeing other, sicker children, we became grateful. Not happy that our son would deal with this for the rest of his life, but we all have our crosses to bear. Not all of them the same, and I was once told, that if we all could see everyone else’s problems, threw them in a big pile, we would probably want to just keep ours. Through this life changing health issue and throughout the struggling seasons, we have much to be thankful for.

7. I can make two guarantees to you today. First, your time on earth will end. Second, you will be remembered for something. Class of 2014, how do you want to be remembered? Answer that question now while your best years are still ahead of you. I’ve shared with you about my priorities. What are your priorities? On what foundation will you build your future? What is your passion? What fires you up? What will you protect? How will you be remembered? You are on the brink of your greatest challenges yet…Don’t take that step without a firm commitment to your priorities… Nunc Coepi.

To read Rivers’ full speech, click here.

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