Perspective From A College Sports Weekend

I don’t want to become a grumpy old man but I sometimes need an emergency grace infusion to not go full metal grouch. This weekend I sat through a very soggy Homecoming victory by the Baylor Bears. It was not the sharpest performance of the season but I reminded myself that Baylor is currently ranked as high as second in the nation. This is the school that lost a game years ago because they tried to run one last scoring play when all they had to do was take a knee. The running back lost the ball and Baylor lost as their opponent ran the recovered fumble 98 yards for a touchdown. Think of the irony of a Baptist school that loses because they refused to kneel!
Fast forward to the Art Briles era. This same school now wins Big 12 Championships and is a legitimate contender for the Championship Playoff. I remind myself of the miracle that has happened in Waco regularly. Late in Saturday’s game a few people booed the team as they left the field. I was stunned and angry.
The reality is that most people who boo couldn’t coach a t-ball team to run the right direction on the bases. They certainly could not play at the level of these young men. It is one thing to boo during professional sports. Those athletes are well paid for their performances. But booing college athletes is off limits for me. These are kids who are playing a game.
A couple of other events over the weekend should give all of us some perspective. In Stillwater, Oklahoma a driver plowed through the Homecoming parade and left four dead and a dozens injured. One minute you are laughing and enjoying a special memory. The next moment a two year old boy, a 25 year old women and a sixty five year old couple are fatally injured. Late in the Baylor game star quarterback Seth Russell left the game. The initial diagnosis of a strained neck grew much more ominous as the evening wore on. A fractured vertebrae ended Russell’s season but he is, thankfully, going to recover fully.
Four people lost their lives in a moment. One outstanding young athlete could have lost his career or worse in a moment. All of us need to take a moment and think about what matters and how fragile all of those important things really are. I am not naive enough to think that the type of intellect that boos college athletes will suddenly gain great perspective from the mutterings of a grumpy old man. That perspective generally comes through suffering and loss. I know. I have been that jerk who booed athletes doing their best on the field and I had to gain perspective through loss and sadness.
Seth Russell is demonstrating the kind of maturity that took me much longer to acquire. The evening of the initial diagnosis he posted this on social media.
His plan isn’t always clear…but trusting in His plan for me. Thanks for all the prayers. I have full faith that this team will continue to do big things.
My grandson loves Seth Russell. He looks for number 17 on the field as soon as he walks into the stadium. I am grateful that there are still role models worthy of the adoration of a five year old boy. I have full faith that Russell will continue to do big things because his trust is in the right place.

Jesus knows all about our frailties. He knows how we wonder about the future and what will happen when things go wrong.

“That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are? Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?” (Matthew 6, NLT)

I have become grateful for my trials and I understand David’s words in Psalm 18.

The Lord is close to the brokenhearted;
he rescues those whose spirits are crushed. (NLT)

The good times are fun. But only the hard times mold me into His image. In those really hard times I realize that Jesus is there and that His love is always available. Brokenness causes me to quit trusting in me and start trusting in God. And then something amazing happens.

Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. (Philipians 4, NLT)

Perspective usually comes with a price.