We had just arrived at our hotel in Quebec City. Turning on the TV to see if there might be anything watchable, I discovered the 4th quarter of the Giants game. Moments after tuning in, one of Russell Wilson's bombs connected for a huge touchdown. And I knew in my bones that the Giants were going to find a way to lose.
At my wife's unarguably valid urging that we abandon the hotel room to begin enjoying the sights we'd come to see, I turned off the TV. Wilson's OT interception as I was pushing the Power Off button confirmed my conclusion. There was no need to bother watching to the bitter end.
I'm afraid no spiritual conclusions were forthcoming. Rather, it confirmed my habit of the last decade or so to let the football season roll on and if, by some miracle, the Giants or Jets (nee NY Titans) were having a season with a minimal promise of a playoff appearance (to lose) I'd allow myself to crawl onto the bandwagon. (As a continuing addict of the Mets and Rangers, I award myself a bye from self-criticism as a front-runner.)
I figure, based on recent history, that there is about a 5% chance of either football team surprising me with a bandwagon to roll with. That will give me plenty of time to imagine ways of unsuccessfully forswearing the nightmare baseball and hockey teams I haven't as yet figured out how to dump. (Mindlessness over matter.)
Instead of a second comment, I have a question: how do you feel about sports figures (like Russell Wilson) who, when interviewed respond with some version of thank you to 'my Lord and Savior' Jesus Christ? (My intent is not to single out the response coming from a Christian perspective, but that's the only one I've ever heard.)
Yeah, Eric, that's a great question. I think it's clear to most people that God does not take sides in a sporting event. So the idea that God actually intended one person to triumph over another in football is absurd to me. However, I guess it's possible that an athlete is so much in-the-moment, having temporarily escaped the conditioned personality, that there is room for letting infinite power in to assist. When I talk of miracles, I don't mean to imply that God is on my side, but rather I just look at what happened objectively, and acknowledge that this is pretty cool, might have required some help.
We had just arrived at our hotel in Quebec City. Turning on the TV to see if there might be anything watchable, I discovered the 4th quarter of the Giants game. Moments after tuning in, one of Russell Wilson's bombs connected for a huge touchdown. And I knew in my bones that the Giants were going to find a way to lose.
At my wife's unarguably valid urging that we abandon the hotel room to begin enjoying the sights we'd come to see, I turned off the TV. Wilson's OT interception as I was pushing the Power Off button confirmed my conclusion. There was no need to bother watching to the bitter end.
I'm afraid no spiritual conclusions were forthcoming. Rather, it confirmed my habit of the last decade or so to let the football season roll on and if, by some miracle, the Giants or Jets (nee NY Titans) were having a season with a minimal promise of a playoff appearance (to lose) I'd allow myself to crawl onto the bandwagon. (As a continuing addict of the Mets and Rangers, I award myself a bye from self-criticism as a front-runner.)
I figure, based on recent history, that there is about a 5% chance of either football team surprising me with a bandwagon to roll with. That will give me plenty of time to imagine ways of unsuccessfully forswearing the nightmare baseball and hockey teams I haven't as yet figured out how to dump. (Mindlessness over matter.)
(Interviewed after being the key player in the winning team.)
Instead of a second comment, I have a question: how do you feel about sports figures (like Russell Wilson) who, when interviewed respond with some version of thank you to 'my Lord and Savior' Jesus Christ? (My intent is not to single out the response coming from a Christian perspective, but that's the only one I've ever heard.)
Yeah, Eric, that's a great question. I think it's clear to most people that God does not take sides in a sporting event. So the idea that God actually intended one person to triumph over another in football is absurd to me. However, I guess it's possible that an athlete is so much in-the-moment, having temporarily escaped the conditioned personality, that there is room for letting infinite power in to assist. When I talk of miracles, I don't mean to imply that God is on my side, but rather I just look at what happened objectively, and acknowledge that this is pretty cool, might have required some help.