Football Season (1)

Psalm 104:24 – What a wildly wonderful world, God! You made it all, with wisdom at your side, made earth overflow with your wonderful creations. (MSG)

Football has been a favourite sport of mine to watch ever since I was a wee thing, at the age of 6, watching the Dallas Cowboys of the 1970s. Sunday afternoons in the fall would be dedicated, after church, of course, to sitting in the den, eyes glued to our television, as Roger Staubach would throw the ball to Preston or Drew Pearson, or pass it to Tony Dorsett. Ironically, this same game has been a centre point of my life for the last few years, and has led me to my chosen career path of sports information.

In the late 1990s, I was standing on top of the press box at the football field at Middle Georgia College in Cochran with one of the coaches. We were getting a view of the freshly cut and painted field. I mentioned how beautiful everything seemed from up top. The grass appeared to be greener. The sky seemed bluer. The sun seemed brighter. I told him how much closer to God I felt standing there, seeing His creation from a different view.

Coach wanted me to follow him. We walked out of the press box to the bleachers. He motioned for me to sit by him, and then he told me to look around me. God is everywhere was Coach's point.

It is very true that as Christians we can know God from what He has made. We don't have to go through a mountaintop or press box experience to be able to get close to God. We don't have to see the bluer sky or the greener grass to be able to enjoy God's creation. All we have to do is open our eyes to what is in front of us and beside us, and recognize that everything comes from God, even a football field.

Prayer: Dear Lord, we pray to You right now, to praise Your name for what You have done for us. Sometimes, Lord, we neglect to see the little things that You have bestowed upon us. Lord, we don't want to miss opportunities to know You, to learn about You, to share about You. Please keep our eyes and ears and hearts open to Your creation! Amen.