I grew up learning that there were winners and losers, black and white and right and wrong.  Maybe this is why when it came to Easter Sunday I had this winner take all mentality.  I used to believe that Easter was like the "Superbowl of Religion." Christ came into the world and conquered death, BOOM. Get on board bitches.   While it is true that without the concept of the risen Christ, many Christians would lose their mind, I realize I think of it a bit different now.  For me, following the way Christ lived while here on Earth is the point.  However, since I am a football nut I still find myself comparing a few things about "Christ Following" to football and especially the Superbowl.  In this Easter season I thought it may be fitting to share a few of the reasons why.

Fun for Everyone

There is nothing small about the Superbowl . . . . obviously this major production is complete with pre-game festivities, a halftime show and propaganda sprinkled throughout.  Ultimately, it is a championship stage where only two teams get to compete.  There are no participation trophies.  Jesus on the other hand, calls us all, the ones who made the playoffs, the MVP's, the injured and the ones that are certified couch potatoes.  We are all invited to take part.  Let me show you how to be love he says. Play 60 you say NFL? Jesus calls us to be love 365 24 7. While you may not be participating in the biggest game in football you are participating in the biggest game you’ll ever be a part of, the game of life.

The Rules of the Game

Actually as I think about it, Jesus was a rule breaker.  He challenged the construct of society.  He questioned rules that were accepted as the norm. While there were no referees dressed in zebra stripes or instant replays that called New York for confirmation, there were plenty of "officials" lurking about reporting on his every move.  Looking for "mistakes" or "missteps." He often stepped outside of the lines purposefully to help those who needed it and once again show love.  In sports and in life we are often punished for breaking rules.  In spite of that, he continued to reach out to the marginalized and exemplify love, knowing the goal wasn't to "win" anything.  The goal instead was to be a change agent for humanity.  Even when it meant not following the status quo or the official rule book.  Sometimes we must be brave and remember to do the kind thing, the gracious thing putting our love into action and going against the grain.

Instant Replay? Using the Lens

Now that Dean Blandino is no longer an NFL official we will have to work harder to decipher official calls that happen on the field.  Even great officiating sometimes calls for an instant replay.  Was his knee down? Did he have possession of the ball? Was that pass interference?  Often in NFL games the rule enforcers need an extra look.  Things that happened in a fraction of a second are zoomed in on with cameras I didn’t even know were there and they use them to help make the official call.  My church leaders always talk about what it means to be a Jesus follower.  Truth is they don't know either, they’re just doing their best.  But what they often reference is trying to look at things using the lens of Jesus.  

When I try to use the Jesus Lens I notice smaller things not grandiose gestures. Our Creator shows up in the mundane.  In the ordinary, in the simple beauty of nature, in how you treat the people you live with and how you react to poor traffic.  If you can't be the change you want to see in the world just try being a smaller thing.  Still important, still significant.  Look through a simplified lens and be the love people.

Oh halftime shows and overpriced commercials . . .

The Superbowl is a spectacle that even a non football fan may watch.  Although the casual observer is probably not aware of all that leads up to the big game they most definitely ARE aware of two things.  Superbowl commercials and the halftime show. 

The commercials serve as a distraction to the game and the way they play the game these days, there are tons of plays being reviewed and challenged at every turn. Therefore, you are guaranteed to see multiple commercials leaving you wondering what the heck “go daddy” is and how on earth did Clydesdales learn to play football? It can be distracting from the game, however more than once I have been at Superbowl parties where people actually cared MORE about the commercials than the game.  

The same goes for the halftime show.  The big spectacle where we now watch anxiously to see if there will be another wardrobe malfunction or see some entertainment icon do their thing.  It is amazing and great to watch and then it is over.

Similarly, it can be this way in our lives.  We can get easily distracted from our goals (commercials) or look forward to the BIG vacation, or promotion, or new shiny object (halftime) and we lose the focus on being present in the here and now.  We forget that we ARE in a game.  It is THE game the only one we know for sure.  How we handle distractions and sideshows are how we learn to live life more fully and be present to the things that matter. 

When I note that I am getting restless, when I am chasing after my latest distraction (squirrel!),  my favorite tool for refocusing is to breathe.  Maybe this can help you too? In through the nose, out through the mouth, in and out, purposeful, relaxing, slowly bringing my conscience back into the right frame of mind.  There we go, now one foot in front of the other dear friends and on to the second half.

On Winning

So the fourth quarter is finished and time has ended.  The game is over and for one team there is victory and the Vince Lombardi trophy.  The victors are hoisting it high, kissing it, passing it around, kissing it some more, sharing it with the owner, the coach , the star player.  There is a giant confetti shower and everyone on the winning team is now wearing a baseball cap that says "Superbowl insert Roman Numeral X's, L's, V's, I's and so on Champion". . . well you get the point.  And after all the confetti has fallen and the fanfare has been held, the bean dip has been eaten and the chips are nothing but broken crumbs in the bottom of a giant bowl. We move on.  We move on because we know that although the game may have been significant that that is not all there is.  Being in this world is being a  part of creation and being a part of humanity is more than one championship, more than one game.  Winning, just like on the field, does not happen every day.  We have to work hard, practice and show up for life EACH day.  Sometimes we will feel like we are winning, but often we do not. 

The next time you watch the Superbowl I want you to watch the faces of the players on the losing team.  Look in their eyes.  Do you see that heartache?  Do you sense how close they came and didn't meet their goal?  Do you feel that disappointment? They had a 50/50 shot at being a champion and today they fell short (seriously why didn't they give the ball to Marshawn?). . .   Maybe they sense they will be back again, maybe they will. For now however, they have to harness all the inner resolve they can find, dig deep, hit the locker room and move forward.  I am guessing that many of you may not be able to directly relate to the extreme elation an NFL team might feel during victory, however I am almost 100% sure that you can all relate to what it feels like to fall short.  What we do with that feeling and how we use that experience moving forward is one of the most pivotal opportunities we have.  How we handle a job loss, or a failed marriage, a tragedy or other personal catastrophe will often do more to shape us than we can imagine. Winning is great but handling loss is truly an opportunity for significant growth.

The whole enchilada

So here it is in a tortilla shell. . . Being a Christian isn't about having figured out the secret key to a happy life and eternity.  To me, following the way of Christ is about envisioning all the love you think Christ is, accepting that love and then using all the love you can muster in the world around you.   There is probably not a guarantee of some fabulous "mansion just over the hilltop" or a shiny trophy that says "congratulations you figured out the secret god code." But I believe that being present in the space where love is exemplified by a human just like me is exactly where Christ has called us to be.  And that my friends, is a win!