The NFL and a Return to Prayer
Tears poured down my face as I watched football.
First, they came last week Monday when Damar Hamlin went into cardiac arrest on national TV during a NFL game between the Bills and the Bengals. As CPR was being administered and the AED was placed on Hamlin’s body men were unapologetically emotional. My shocked tears joined theirs.
I was particularly moved that in a moment of crisis their response was not to send out “good vibes”, it was to cry out to an all-powerful God. It set the president for the nation. Twitter erupted in messages of prayer, love, and unity. In the days that followed sports Broadcasters prayed on national TV. I watched amazed as a polarized nation united around the health and healing of one man.
Saturday came and I watched two other teams meeting on the field to pray before the game. This would repeat itself for every game throughout the weekend. These men were faced with the reality of life and chose to connect to the one who created them in the knowledge and the capacity that they knew how. Again, they led the nation to do the same. Every game was splattered with blue and red posters proclaiming their PRAYERS for the man who laid on a field receiving CPR just a few days prior. A man who was now watching from his hospital room.
Our nation loves the NFL and the athletes that have dedicated their lives to the game. Many of them use their platforms to serve communities, medical research, and other causes they are equally passionate about. Over the last week I believe God used them to spark something in our nation. A return to prayer. Prayer was natural, innate, for them and I believe it is the same for all of us. These men reminded us that prayer looks and sounds all kinds of ways. I imagine that the raw, messy but sinecure prayers must have a special place in the heart of God.
The Bills played yesterday. My tears fell again, as the Bills returned the opening punt for a touchdown. It was exactly three years and three months since the Bills had returned a punt for a touchdown. Hamlin is number three. As a player would say later, “Only God could write this story. God must be real.” Josh Allen, the Bills quarterback referred to the moment as “spiritual.” Initially, I was slightly offended. Then, Holy Spirit reminded me that he was on the field. He was there and willing to meet with anyone who wanted to meet with Him in that moment. No wonder such an incredible moment would feel spiritual. The Holy One was there. On the field.
This morning I was journaling about this story that has gripped our nation and my own heart. We have seen the truth; the world is hungry for and longing for their Creator. Hearts have been stirred as the power of prayer has been evident, and God has shown up in the details.
Church, we can let this be a news cycle, or we can steward it with Holy Spirit. I think everyone in their own sphere of influence will have a different role to play. I can’t help but think what an easy conversation starter this is. What an opportunity it is to talk about the God that we don’t just pray to in times of crisis, but that wants to be in relationship with us. For me, this is also a time to repent for anyway that we have separated and fractured ourselves as the church because someone’s prayers did sound or look like the way we pray.
I have heard many pastors and Christians call the NFL one of the great American idols. Something that we choose over God, cheer for louder than we worship, or spend more time engaging than scripture. I don’t deny that for many Americans these things are true. As the church we could shame ourselves or those around us for such behavior, but I haven’t seen much good fruit from that. Wouldn’t it be more like God to use a crisis to turn the NFL into a way to proclaim His love and presence to our nation?
When we know the One we love and His presence, a byproduct will be the pruning His goodness is faithful to complete.
I want to be the person who is so in tune with Heaven that I am always prepared to see what God is doing, even in the middle of a football game. This wasn’t just a crisis. It is an invitation.
*Picture used from Chicago Tribune
https://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/breaking/ct-damar-hamlin-buffalo-bills-20230108-dav3urhzurheppenqlijye7fvu-story.html