I’m fascinated by my support of Tim Tebow. Why would I, a lifelong Cleveland Browns fan whose team has suffered under the Broncos hooves, cheer for their quarterback and, henceforth, ”them.” Why am I excited about attending a party to watch the aforementioned Broncos football team play the New England Patriots?
For years we’ve been hearing players thank God, thank Jesus, praise the Lord, etc. for the opporutnity to play, for the chance to do something special with their athletic gifts, for a big victory.
One of the most eloquent of these was Frank Reich, backup quarterback to Jim Kelly for the Buffalo Bills in the years the Bills played in four Super Bowls. Reich had just led the Bills to a completely unexpected victory over the Houston Oilers, who had an insurmountable lead of 35-3 in the middle of the 3rd quarter. When the game was over Reich gave credit for Buffalo’s victory to “Christ alone.” (For more on that game, check out this video: watch?v=MhASCL-3GwU)
“Any time I get an opportunity to tell him that I love him or given an opportunity to shout him out on national TV, I’m gonna take that opportunity.” (from USA Today, by Nate Davis, 11/23/11)
Why am I finding this so refreshing? Is it that I’m experiencing the joy of the Holy Spirit in the midst of my love of sports? Is it that for one of a handful of times in my life, I’m more concerned about the performance of a player, rather than my team? Is it that I sense God’s hand in this, somehow, someway. Who else has inspired people all over the country to look up John 3:16, just because he passed for 316 yards against the Steelers last wekeend?
However this turns out, win or loss, I pray Tim Tebow has the courage and conviction by God’s spirit to do what he’s been doing all season – pass the praise to the one who really deserves it.
