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The Pastoral Lens
Lessons From the Gridiron
Tuesday, January 14, 2003
Back when I was in high school and university, my twin brother and I had a weekly habit that we adhered to every Monday night. Regardless of homework load or other things scheduled, all things ground to a halt on a Monday evening around 8:30 pm. At that point we closed the books and headed downstairs to the rec room tv. One of us would make up a batch of popcorn while the other got soft drinks and glasses with ice cubes ready. By the time 9:00 pm rolled around studying was a thing of the past and the sights and sounds of ABC's Monday Night Football was what occupied our undivided attention. Many mediocre report cards from those years prove our devotion to this tradition. Nevertheless, I learned a number of things from those games, some of which were brought to mind as I watched a recent NFL playoff game between the Tennessee Titans and the Pittsburgh Steelers.I wasn't really intending to watch the game, but as I turned the television on to get a quick "update" on the score (so I assured my wife) I was drawn in by the intense action. The Titans had burst out to a fast 14-0 start and seemed to be in cruise control. Here's the first lesson I learned. A fast start is great, but it doesn't guarantee a victory.
In the Bible, Abraham and Lot became so prosperous that the land they shared couldn't sustain them both. Abraham graciously gave his nephew the first choice in choosing an alternate habitat. Lot chose the well-watered plain of Sodom and moved there. His "great start" fizzled fast, however, as Sodom proved to be a moral cesspool. As it turned out, Lot barely made it out of there and was only rescued due to the prayers of Abraham. Sure enough, the confident Titans turned the ball over twice with a fumble and an interception, both leading to Pittsburgh scores. By halftime, the score was 14-13 for the Titans. The momentum had changed in Pittsburgh's favour.
Things quickly got worse early into the second half. On the first play, Tennessee fumbled leading to a touchdown on the very next play for the Steelers, giving them their first lead of the game. The crowd was stunned into silence. Here's the next lesson. When the chips are down, you don't always have the support and encouragement of others. Sometimes you have to go against the flow. When Jesus was on His way to Calvary, He had to walk alone, carrying His cross, as His close followers had scattered and left Him. Things looked grim for the Son of God, and nobody was there to "cheer" him on. The crowd had been taken out of the game, so to speak.
As I continued to watch the game on the edge of my seat, the lead changed hands a couple of times, eventually leading to a game-tying field goal by Pittsburgh (did I mention how much I despise Pittsburgh?) as regulation time came to an end. Thankfully, the Titans won the toss and elected to take the ball at the beginning of the overtime period. With a new burst of resolve they marched down the field and were immediately in position to kick a game-winning field goal. They had missed a long try at the end of regulation which would have won it for them. Now they had a second chance. God delights in giving us a "second chance" after we've missed opportunities and have failed in life. I thank God for second chances....and third chnces! You see, the Tennessee kicker missed the opportunity he was given, his "second chance" after blowing the first opportunity in regulation time. I was just about to blow up and break a lamp, or something, when I saw that a penalty had been called against the Steelers. One of their players had run into the Titans' kicker. The ball was moved up 5 yards and the kick was tried again. This time the kicker was successful sending the Titans to the next round and their fans into a joyful frenzy.
I want to encourage you today. God is there for you to lift you up when you are down and give you opportunities for a second chance (or more). He has a plan for your life and wants to write the final chapter of your life to insure a happy ending. Why not let Him be your Head Coach?
