We Did It!

Yesterday was a big day for just about everyone in the area where I live. After eleven long years, our local professional football team returned to the Super Bowl to play for what is referred to as the “world championship” of that sport. And we won! 

I’m not a die-hard sports fan, but I do enjoy watching a good football game when our team is playing well. My personal team experience is limited, as I never played sports or competed in any other scenarios on a team. My only team experience was many years of serving as a member of our church worship team, which is different than the team sports experience. 

I’ve also been starting to watch the Olympics that are currently taking place in Italy, where most of the competitions involve individuals rather than teams. But what I’ve heard repeated by numerous members of the Seahawks football team over the past couple weeks is the idea of teamwork; and it seems that this team has a special connection with each other. Nearly every member of the team that reporters have spoken to has referred to the brotherhood that exists on this team, and it is evident in how they play and how they speak about each other. There truly doesn’t seem to be any “I” in this team. 

There also doesn’t seem to be any separation based on color on this team. That’s probably because many of the players as well as the head coach often mention God and their personal relationships with him. I believe this has had a unifying effect on this team that is not always seen on other teams. 

Our church is located in the fifth most ethnically diverse city in the whole United States, and we are making a conscious effort to become a church that welcomes people of all races. Only the Spirit of God can knit all people groups together into one body of believers who aren’t focused on differences but rather on shared beliefs and common goals. So it is refreshing to see such camaraderie on a secular football team. 

And it challenges all of us to approach those around us who are different with the same acceptance and team attitude that our football team displays. Imagine all we could accomplish for God’s kingdom if we could get that right!