I was trying to think of a reason to post about the football games my sons played yesterday. . . and then Steve Altrogge stepped up and threw a touchdown pass right where I needed it. In his new book, Game Day for the Glory of God, Altrogge describes one of the things I love most about my sons’ football games (or my daughter’s volleyball):
Isn’t God kind to give us the gift of sports? They allow us to focus our minds on a reality that’s completely outside ourselves. When I play basketball, I’m temporarily transported out of the swirling mass of subjective thoughts and emotions that would normally occupy my mind and into a rock-solid world of layups, rebounds and crossover dribbles. This is a very good thing indeed. Self-centeredness only leads to unhappiness and misery. Sports are gifts from God that allow us to temporarily forget about self.
If you click here, you can find more information on Crossway’s new blog, and even read a sample chapter.
The picture illustrates another of sports’ most important lessons, and greatest sources of joy. My son is not the guy running through the hole. (Nor is my son the opposing linebacker (#44) coming up to greet the running back). Chris is the guy helping make the hole by blocking number #78 – – notice #78 has a good football name.
I love that football teaches the value of working in the trenches, out of the limelight. While one guy (Tristan in this case) has the ball, 10 others are working in the pews to throw blocks.
Knowing that you made a hole where it counts, when you weren’t the guy carrying the ball, is one of the greatest joys in life. Throw a block this week.
