I spent part of this past weekend watching the NFL football playoffs. I was personally hoping for the Buffalo Bills and Chicago Bears to advance to the next round, but unfortunately both teams were sent home this weekend.
I haven’t been able to catch the Texans play all year, so I was looking forward to doing so this weekend. They faced off with the New England Patriots who have certainly had their own glory days in years past and may just be heading back up to the top. I was particularly interested in watching C.J. Stroud play on the big stage. The Ohio State University graduate and 24-year-old Texans star quarterback is also a young man who is unashamedly outspoken about his Christian faith. In a refreshing, gentle and non-obnoxious way.
Stroud played a horrible game this weekend. He threw four interceptions in the first half alone and didn’t pull his game together in the second half either. There were a few substantial injuries on his offensive line which left the young quarterback without the protection and throwing time he was used to having. It was beautiful to see the young man take full ownership of having an off game and subpar performance when his team needed it most. Not pointing fingers outwardly or blaming the other players or coaching staff. Personal accountability and internal reflection are a nearly extinct trait today.
As the final whistle blew and the game was decided strongly in the Patriots favor. Both teams stopped everything, gathered together and took a knee to pray together. Two teams who just battled it out on the football field. Many players with their own and their opponents blood still drying up on their jersey. Kneeling together in the snow to give thanks for the opportunity to play a sport they love at such a high level. Giving thanks for no life altering injuries during the game, for their coaches and for each other, and their opponents. Clearly not using prayer as a good luck charm to defeat the other side or gain a personal victory. With a good portion of the country watching them do so, the two teams become one for a moment. Didn’t rush through their time of prayer together. This scene was a reflection of a light that was meant to shine increasingly bright.
In a time when the Christian faith is being propagated to defeat the “other side” and beat back our enemies, the Texans and Patriots made a choice to stop everything to hold hands with the opponents to pray. The Christian faith was founded on a message of love, healing, selflessness and redeeming the hearts and souls of lost humans. Whoever they may be. Not using our weapons to “cut the ears off” of the opposition. (Luke 22:47-51)
Personally, I spent most of my life being an enemy of God’s and opposed to the message of the cross. Living to lie, cheat, take and manipulate. Using every person I met for my own advantage, regardless of how hard I had to step on their face to do so. Yet still, in the darkest and most desperate time of my life’s journey, the One who I was formerly an enemy of came to rescue me, saving me from myself. Jesus gave His own life to ransom His enemy, when He had every right to just incinerate me.
I love seeing faith in the public square being represented in a way that speaks to the onlookers of the character of God. I personally pray that we see more of it because it’s beautiful, wholesome and healing. Holding hands to pray with an opponent.
