I doubt any player or coach, or even fan, for all that it matters, went to the Super Boal or yelled in front of the TV was apathetic, lackluster, or uninvolved. On the contrary. There are many euphemisms for the passion, the energy, the “revved-up” attitude, or the enthusiasm displayed yesterday. Whatever their motivation, actual interest or going along with the crowd and happy to be “up” about anything following a week of dismay, worries, questions, and apprehension, people yesterday left their inhibitions behind and allowed themselves to act as children with yelps, cheers, groans, and either joy and elation or utter despair.
Of course, I see it all with spiritual eyes. I’m reading Revelation, the last book in the Bible right now, and reading about a church which lost its passion, another that was indifferent, another that was so socially conscious that the culture was more important than God’s message. We’ve all been chastened this week by a massive earthquake, suspicious things floating–guided or drifting–above our heads. Tension is high. Maybe that’s an explanation for the nationalism and patriotism exhibited at the beginning of the game. We want to believe in something positive. It’s a want and a need.
Perhaps, whether you’re religious or not, you can, and sometimes do, wonder how the end times will look. Will we be hunkered down in our homes, wondering where the next meal will come from, wondering what hostile takeovers might look like, or whether a huge Armageddon battle will be fought like the one in Ukraine.
We need to be about the business of doing the best we can at what we do to try to improve things in the world we live in. But we may want to do that in the name of Christ who makes our work and lives meaningful. This verse from Matthew 10 is just as appropriate today as when Jesus said it before His death on the cross, His redeeming sacrifice given so we have meaningful lives here and in eternity. “Go and announce to them that the Kingdom of Heaven is near. Hal the sick, raise the dead, cure those with leprosy, and cast our demons. Give as freely as you have received.
A career teacher, with forty years of teaching language arts/English, Betty Jackson enjoys wordsmithing, writing, and reading as a vocation and avocation.Retirement is her "age of frosting," a chance to pursue postponed hobbies with gusto. She especially sends kudos to the Space Coast Writers Guild members for their encouragement and advice. Her five books, It's a God Thing!, Job Loss: What's Next? A Step by Step Action Plan, and Bless You Bouquets: A Memoir, And God Chose Joseph: A Christmas Story, and Rocking Chair Porch: Summers at Grandma's are available at Amazon.com. Ms. Jackson is available to speak to local groups and to offer her books at discount for fundraising purposes at her discretion. She and her husband soon celebrate their 47th anniversary, and have lived in New York, New Jersey, Iowa, and now the paradise of Palm Bay, Florida. Their two grown children and daughter-in-love, all orchestra musicians, and our beautiful granddaughters Kaley and Emily live nearby. Hobbies, and probably future topics on her blog: gardening, symphonic music (especially supporting the Space Coast Symphony Orchestra as a volunteer and proud parent of a violinist, a cellist, and an oboist), singing, book clubs, and co-teaching a weekly small-group Bible study for seniors. She volunteers and substitute teaches at Covenant Christian School, and serves as a board member of the Best Yet Set senior group at church. Foundationally, she daily enjoys God's divine appointments called Godincidences, which show God's providence and loving kindness.