Monday, November 07, 2005
Football and Church
Football is a peculiar sport. You have 11 men (boys) on each team and yet often the outcome of any game is laid on the shoulders of one player. Our local high school made it to the play-offs this past weekend. The star quarterback who already has secured scholarships was unable to play. The team lost without the head of their offense. Many in the community were upset that he was not allowed to play. What was his offense? DUI; I applaud the coach for his stand. If anyone should be upset it is the other players who counted on this boy as a leader.
My Crimson Tide is sputtering along at 9-0. But since the injury to our razzle-dazzle receiver and punt returner Tyrone Prothro, the offense has fizzled. We have our quarterback Brody Croyle, who was credited with the failings of the offense last season when he went out with an injury. And while Pro was not in on every play and most of us didn’t see his loss as being devastating to the offense, it has been. Whether it is a matter of leadership, or just knowing that explosive possibility is there, without him the team is not as strong, not as complete.
This week the Tide’s center J.B. Closner went down with a broken leg. Talk about a player who is taken for granted by everyone but the quarterback. Suddenly Brody was not sure of his snaps. He almost mishandled several as they just were not relayed in the way he was used to. Even after the game was in hand the quarterback could not be replaced because you needed sure hands to offset any mis-snaps. I am sure the back up center will improve with practice this week, but Closner will be missed.
Church is much like this. Much as we like to think we can come and go as we please and things will go on the same without us, the “team” is not complete when we are not there. We may see our role as insignificant or unappreciated, but there is someone who is counting on us, someone depending on our smile or warm touch to help them through the week. We may not be the star. It may be that many will not notice if we are not there. But for any body or any team to be its strongest everyone has to participate, everyone has to be counted on.
I don’t like this analogy. I would rather think that I can come and go as I please.
My Crimson Tide is sputtering along at 9-0. But since the injury to our razzle-dazzle receiver and punt returner Tyrone Prothro, the offense has fizzled. We have our quarterback Brody Croyle, who was credited with the failings of the offense last season when he went out with an injury. And while Pro was not in on every play and most of us didn’t see his loss as being devastating to the offense, it has been. Whether it is a matter of leadership, or just knowing that explosive possibility is there, without him the team is not as strong, not as complete.
This week the Tide’s center J.B. Closner went down with a broken leg. Talk about a player who is taken for granted by everyone but the quarterback. Suddenly Brody was not sure of his snaps. He almost mishandled several as they just were not relayed in the way he was used to. Even after the game was in hand the quarterback could not be replaced because you needed sure hands to offset any mis-snaps. I am sure the back up center will improve with practice this week, but Closner will be missed.
Church is much like this. Much as we like to think we can come and go as we please and things will go on the same without us, the “team” is not complete when we are not there. We may see our role as insignificant or unappreciated, but there is someone who is counting on us, someone depending on our smile or warm touch to help them through the week. We may not be the star. It may be that many will not notice if we are not there. But for any body or any team to be its strongest everyone has to participate, everyone has to be counted on.
I don’t like this analogy. I would rather think that I can come and go as I please.
Comments:
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Tommy,
I think you can be traded to another team. You just have to "be there" for the team that you are part of. Don't you think?
I think you can be traded to another team. You just have to "be there" for the team that you are part of. Don't you think?
I think a good caoch knows not to build a team around one player. I'm more than sure that God gets this to. We need to be there and we need to be able to count on each other, but the only star on the team took one for all of us, and the coach has a miraculos playbook that allows us to win, even when we mess up. Some of his plays even count on that.
Not sure this analogy holds up, but that what happens when someone as athelic as lace trys a sports analogy.
Great thoughts if you inspired me to think in sports terms!
Not sure this analogy holds up, but that what happens when someone as athelic as lace trys a sports analogy.
Great thoughts if you inspired me to think in sports terms!
Donna,
yeah, nobody wants T.O. on their team now... (for those of you who are football challanged, that is Terrell Owens). Hard place to be is thinking you are getting traded, but it hasn't happened yet. You want to be a team player, and you do your part, but you see the end coming.
yeah, nobody wants T.O. on their team now... (for those of you who are football challanged, that is Terrell Owens). Hard place to be is thinking you are getting traded, but it hasn't happened yet. You want to be a team player, and you do your part, but you see the end coming.
What would church look like if the front pew was filled with shirtless men covered in paint & multi-colored wigs holding signs that read "Not in OUR house", etc.
I too admire the coaches courage to bench the star player. That lesson may last longer than the memory of the loss.
I think every team needs a "Rudy". A person who tries really hard and everyone pulls for. Fans love those guys on a team. We tend to get irritated with them at church. hmmm
BTW: You mention on my blog the Chronicles of Narnia are on your buy list. I know you have just gotten into books on CD. Focus on the family did a very nice dramatized production of them a few years back. They are pricey but good.
I think every team needs a "Rudy". A person who tries really hard and everyone pulls for. Fans love those guys on a team. We tend to get irritated with them at church. hmmm
BTW: You mention on my blog the Chronicles of Narnia are on your buy list. I know you have just gotten into books on CD. Focus on the family did a very nice dramatized production of them a few years back. They are pricey but good.
Boy, do I know about missing a player when he's gone! The kid who is usually the quarterback on Noah's 3rd/4th grade flag football team was missing tonight and we were hurting!
But taking it to your spiritual application, there've been times in my life when I've felt like I wasn't part of the team... when it truly seemed that my presence or absence made no difference. It's not a good place to be.
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But taking it to your spiritual application, there've been times in my life when I've felt like I wasn't part of the team... when it truly seemed that my presence or absence made no difference. It's not a good place to be.
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