Football, Hawkeyes and Church

Last weekend Mark, Carson and I travelled up to Minneapolis for the Iowa/Minnesota Game. Our good friends, John and Monica and the fam were there and to say we had a wonderful time doesn't do justice to just how much fun we had. A big part of the fun was all the Hawkeye fans who had also come up for the game. There were Hawkeye fans everywhere -- At our hotel in Bloomington, at John and Monica's hotel downtown, at IKEA, there was black and gold everywhere you looked. The game was at night and we walked from John and Monica's hotel to the Metrodome. On the way, we would greet other Iowa fans, shout out a "Go Hawks" and slap hands. As we passed tailgaiters, a big "Go Hawks" would sound out again.

During the game, we cheered, we high fived everytime Iowa scored, or made a first down. One young lady a few rows down led us in the I.O.W.A. cheer every time Iowa got a touchdown and since they had 55 points, she was a busy girl. We were strangers with a common goal -- cheering and encouraging our team.

So then I was thinking. What if all these fans went to the game, but people in black shirts sat in one section, people in gold shirts sat in another section. Another section had people whose shirts said Hawkeyes and another section was for those whose simply said Iowa. And while the game was going on, we all looked at the people in the other sections and if we saw someone with a short sleeve shirt we would think "My goodness, doesn't that person realize we're in Minnesota? In November?" Or if someone had on a sweatshirt, we would nudge the person next to us and say "We're in a dome for pity sake, why are they wearing a sweatshirt?" And we would be so busy looking at all the people in the other sections that we would completely miss a nearly perfectly excuted game being played out on the field.

I see that as a picture of the church. There is the Catholic Church, the Baptists, Lutherans, Evangelical Free Church, The Reformed, Church in America, Nondemoninational and then along comes -- oh gasp -- contemporary versus traditional and on it goes. We become so intent on seeing the differences that we forget to keep our eyes on The Real Game, the One who is our common ground.

I have to believe that if I have a contrite heart acknowledging how sinful I am, but so filled with joy and gratitude for the saving grace that God has given us, then if I'm singing with an organ or drums and a guitar, if I'm at a Catholic mass or worshiping in an African-American community, that God is there with me.

At the end of the game, all the Minnesota fans had gone on home and Iowa fans were the only ones left in that vast cavern called the Metrodome. We were strangers with one common interest who had come into opponent's house, won the battle on the field and then took over their territory. I think if The Church would focus on the One we serve rather than how different we are, we could go far in defeating the real enemy and taking over much of the territory he holds on to. Fight on.

Thanksgiving
1. John, Monica, kids and extended family.
2. Iowa Football.
3. A day devoted to giving Thanks.
4. Cuzin Barby.
5. Having Carson along to Minneapolis.
6. Carissa coming home this week.

With Lifted Hands and Heart
1. Tate
2. Mark, Cody, Elizabeth, Carson and Carissa.
3. Safe travel for Carissa and others coming home for Thanksgiving.
4. Family blessings this week.
5. A successful cookie walk at the Reformed Church in SF.