For the first three-and-a-half quarters, the only redeeming part of watching the Super Bowl was seeing that sixty-year-old Bruce Springsteen still has it (unless you are fond of commercials featuring horses – how many horse commercials can there be?). But then the game turned exciting. Larry Fitzgerald vs. Santonio Holmes. Penalties for safeties and tiptoe touchdowns. One comeback followed by another. And then, with five seconds on the clock and the opportunity to pull-off the most dramatic finish in Super Bowl history, Kurt Warner fumbles.
Or, did he? Am I the only one who thinks his arm was going FORWARD!?!?! I mean, is a booth review with the stinkin’ Super Bowl on the line too much to ask? Did the entire world have something more important to do that couldn’t wait five minutes just to be sure of the call?
I hope so, of course. As much as I love football, it is just a grown-up game.
My Sunday School teacher is a retired Bible professor from Pepperdine, and he said recently that in ancient Rome athletic “stars” were second only to the emperor in terms of popularity. Sound familiar? And he pointed out that Paul used athletic imagery from time to time to communicate lessons that Jesus-students needed to hear. So today, on the day after Super Sunday, I thought I would share one of my all-time favorites from 1st Corinthians 9 (MSG):
24-25 You’ve all been to the stadium and seen the athletes race. Everyone runs; one wins. Run to win. All good athletes train hard. They do it for a gold medal that tarnishes and fades. You’re after one that’s gold eternally.
26-27 I don’t know about you, but I’m running hard for the finish line. I’m giving it everything I’ve got. No sloppy living for me! I’m staying alert and in top condition. I’m not going to get caught napping, telling everyone else all about it and then missing out myself.
Springsteen says we’re “born to run.” Apostle Paul says “run to win.”
Minutes to Memories 