TOTALLY GEEKED!

Lady Gaga Snerd · Guru

My wife and I love to relax by watching tennis. In the first round of the tournament being played at Indian Wells, CA, we saw the up-and-coming American Jack Sock defeat Yen-Hsun Lu of Taiwan. As the camera closed in on Jack after his win, he made the sign of the cross, pointed a finger to the sky and looked up with a big smile on his face clearly thanking Jesus for His role in the victory.

A funny thought occurred to us. When had we seen a tennis player, or any other athlete for that matter, make the sign of the cross, or any other symbolic recognition of the Divine, after a loss? Do athletes who acknowledge the Lord after a win think He isn't with them after a loss?

In defeat, there is a tendency to close down and be judgmental. When we get down on ourselves, it is easy to forget that the Divine is continually rooting for us to get back up and make the most out of the next opportunity to move forward.

When we are down, remembering that we are living in an ocean of love can be a gateway to leave the past behind and more forward with positive energy. The following chapter from my book, Living Wisely, touches on this idea:

You are living in an ocean of love.
When our hearts and minds are closed to love, we cannot fulfill our potential. My Kabbalah teacher taught that we are here to be fully human. That means not rejecting any part of ourselves, especially the parts we don't like. Rather, she encouraged her students to find healthy ways to bring the dark and light parts of our being into consciousness and then into the healing field of love that is at the heartbeat of creation.
As you accept more parts of yourself, more light will fill your heart and mind. You will be creating space to experience the ocean of love that manifests itself in infinite ways. This love that is ever present in our hearts connects us to being alive like nothing else does. Be open to let this love bathe and heal you.
Are you ready to make more room for love? If not, what are you holding onto that is getting in the way?

Perhaps it is too much to ask of a professional athlete who is feeling the sting of defeat to publicly acknowledge the Divine. I wonder what the reaction of fans and pundits would be if this did happen. Would it start a discussion on the role of faith and love on the greater playing field of life? Regardless of what professional athletes do after a win or a loss, I welcome your thoughts and experiences of the role divine love played in your victories or defeats.

Lady Gaga Snerd · Guru

All this display of religion after you win a GAME seems really bizarre and uncomfortable to me. I mean, it's just a football game or basketball game or whatever. Yeah, I love the games but is God betting on UConn or something? I don't know. I just find it strange. And, I have a real problem with all victory being ascribed to God which is kind of like saying He isn't with you during defeat. I think that is part of the "Health and Wealth" Gospel that is being sold in droves to people nowadays, which I think is a lot of biblically false teaching.

lilyofcourse · My spirit animal is a pink flamingo.

It's giving God glory. That is what we are supposed to do. Do everything for the glory of God. Even when we lose, we are to be glorifying God.

Is a lot of it for show? I don't know.

I don't understand why someone doing something so simple can make someone uncomfortable.

Lawyerlady · On the bright side...... Christmas is coming! (Mod)

Maybe the other side prayed harder. biggrin

Lindley · Guru

I don't think God is going to cause anyone to win, but as a Christian you can Pray to God to for strength to do your best.

Mellow Momma · Sniff...sniff, sniff. Yay! A Bum!

When DH coached at a Catholic high school, the boys prayed in a circle before and after every game - win or lose.

Lady Gaga Snerd · Guru

lilyofcourse wrote:
It's giving God glory. That is what we are supposed to do. Do everything for the glory of God. Even when we lose, we are to be glorifying God.

Is a lot of it for show? I don't know.

I don't understand why someone doing something so simple can make someone uncomfortable.

Because I think it sends a message that God is only on the side of the WINNERS, that's why.

Lady Gaga Snerd · Guru

Lawyerlady wrote:
Maybe the other side prayed harder.

smile

Mellow Momma · Sniff...sniff, sniff. Yay! A Bum!

Lady Gaga Snerd wrote:
lilyofcourse wrote:
It's giving God glory. That is what we are supposed to do. Do everything for the glory of God. Even when we lose, we are to be glorifying God.

Is a lot of it for show? I don't know.

I don't understand why someone doing something so simple can make someone uncomfortable.
Because I think it sends a message that God is only on the side of the WINNERS, that's why.

Yeah - if DH's team won by a lot, there were people who were offended by the team praying after the game. I used to tell them "it's a Catholic school. They pray before and after everything. It isn't personal". That would tamp down the hurt feelings a bit.

Lady Gaga Snerd · Guru

I think it cheapens Christianity when it becomes about winning and losing a game. And, that somehow God was "on your side" if you won. That could be the furthest thing from the Truth.

Divine Geek · Guru

Lawyerlady wrote:
Maybe the other side prayed harder.

A common chant at Notre Dame when my sister was there was "God's on our side" 😀😀

Ohfour · Hooker

Lady Gaga Snerd wrote:
I think it cheapens Christianity when it becomes about winning and losing a game. And, that somehow God was "on your side" if you won. That could be the furthest thing from the Truth.

That's not how I see it at all. They won, they are giving God the glory for making them strong and able, for giving them their talent.

lilyofcourse · My spirit animal is a pink flamingo.

That's how I see it too, O4.

JPT · Senior Member

Divine Geek wrote:
Lawyerlady wrote:
Maybe the other side prayed harder.

A common chant at Notre Dame when my sister was there was "God's on our side" 😀😀

And there were the years He taught them humility...as my late dear old dad would say.

Lady Gaga Snerd · Guru

Ohfour wrote:
Lady Gaga Snerd wrote:
I think it cheapens Christianity when it becomes about winning and losing a game. And, that somehow God was "on your side" if you won. That could be the furthest thing from the Truth.
That's not how I see it at all. They won, they are giving God the glory for making them strong and able, for giving them their talent.

Yes, I see your point. It's just kind of like the Plastic Jesus Nativity sets in some ways. I mean, I think it kind of comes across as shallow is what I am saying. And, in reality, the Bible tells us that God is with us when we are weak, defeated, alone, downtrodden and cast out. Just saying that it is very easy to send the wrong message in that regard.

huskerbb · Guru

How do they know athletes DON'T acknowledge God after a loss? It's not like the cameras focus on the loser.

When a football player makes a touchdown, they cameras are on him. They aren't on the guys who DON'T score the touchdowns.

huskerbb · Guru

Ohfour wrote:
Lady Gaga Snerd wrote:
I think it cheapens Christianity when it becomes about winning and losing a game. And, that somehow God was "on your side" if you won. That could be the furthest thing from the Truth.
That's not how I see it at all. They won, they are giving God the glory for making them strong and able, for giving them their talent.

Exactly. Aren't we supposed to thank God for the gifts he gives us?

Lady Gaga Snerd · Guru

huskerbb wrote:
How do they know athletes DON'T acknowledge God after a loss? It's not like the cameras focus on the loser.

When a football player makes a touchdown, they cameras are on him. They aren't on the guys who DON'T score the touchdowns.

Are they giving high fives to Jesus too and we don't see it? I doubt it. hmm

huskerbb · Guru

Lady Gaga Snerd wrote:
huskerbb wrote:
How do they know athletes DON'T acknowledge God after a loss? It's not like the cameras focus on the loser.

When a football player makes a touchdown, they cameras are on him. They aren't on the guys who DON'T score the touchdowns.

Are they giving high fives to Jesus too and we don't see it? I doubt it.

??? You have no idea what they are doing. Since many of them are not Christian, they probably aren't acknowledging him, at all. For those that are Christian, though, you have no idea what or how they are acknowledging him if the camera is not on them. Even if the camera is on them, what do you want? You seem to be against such public displays--but yet now you are doubting the faith of the "losers" if they don't show such displays.

TOTALLY GEEKED!

Where Does God Go When We Lose?