The Higher Desert

Since the World Cup kicked off this morning, and American football tends to dominate my thoughts most of the year, I’m inspired to think about sport today.
A long time ago, this guy named Paul used sports as a metaphor for life with Jesus. I think he was onto something. He talked about things like competing, boxing, running to win and staying in shape. What if churches functioned more like sports teams? What might we see? Professional athletes, whether they play American football or World football, are a poor set of role models for anyone; but the Church of Jesus Christ might be able to learn some things from sport - so here are a few ideas:

1 Teamwork. What if Christ-followers coordinated our activity - using our gifts, talents and ideas - as beautifully as the Brazilians attacking the goal?

2 Training. What if Christ-followers trained in the word as hard as Tour De France riders train on their bicycles?

3 Position. What if Christ-following communities worked as hard to discover and develop unique talents as well as High-School football teams do? (we have lots of placekickers playing quarterback, I’m afraid)

4 Celebration. What if Christ-following communities celebrated the individual and collective goals we score with the same joy that those crazy European soccer fans do?

5 Tenacity. What if Christ-followers learned to stick to it like the marathoners or cross-country skiers we see at the Olympic games?

6 Focus. What if we concentrated on our mission like Tiger Woods does to his? Mental toughness is a beautiful thing.

7 Faith. What if we could say, like John Elway when his team had two minutes and 98 yards to go, “We’ve got ‘em right where we want ‘em”? Because we know all about the best player on our team.

8 Competition. (My personal favorite) What if Christ-followers learned to relish the challenge of changing the world the way a world-class athlete relishes testing himself against his peers?

9 Victory. What if we learned to claim our place as champions like John Wooden’s UCLA basketball teams did - knowing that we are on the winning side and acting like it?

10 Armor. What if we realized how serious this business is and put on the right gear so we can do our job without fear? Life is tough - get a helmet!

11 Sacrifice. What if, like Iron-Man triathletes, Christ-followers learned to give everything, seeking the very limits of the Spirit’s power within us?

What if? What then? I dont know, but I’d like to find out. And in the meantime, I’ll look forward to my football, and watch your football and learn more lessons about life, spirit and what can be here in the higher desert.