I am a sports nerd.I blame it on my fifth-grade gym teacher, who gave us assignments like go watch a football game and write a two-page essay on the skills, strategies, and statistics you see. Next thing I know, I’m conversing about Michael Jordan and “three-peats,” battling an addiction to NHL ’94 on the Super Nintendo, and crying when Joe Carter crushes the Phillies’ championship dreams with a walk-off home run in Game 6 of the 1993 World Series.
Like any respectable fan from the rabid, blue-collared city of Philadelphia, I’m a “four-for-four guy.” Translation: I root for the four major sports teams in town (Eagles, Flyers, Phillies, and 76ers).
Before the Phillies won the World Series last year, Philadelphia had been mired in a 25-year championship drought. And since I probably didn’t truly appreciate the Sixers’ NBA Title in 1983 when I was one year old, I was deprived of experiencing the feeling of sports supremacy. Needless to say, the Phillies’ 2008 championship was one of the greatest moments of my life. I went to the Broad Street Parade, bought the hat, two t-shirts, a sweatshirt, the DVD, and renewed my Sports Illustrated subscription through 2012 to get the special limited edition book and baseball.
When the Flyers blow a late two-goal lead, I’m livid. If the Eagles lose, I’m depressed for a week. A three-game losing streak is the end of the world for a Phillie fan. And if the Sixers are stunned at the buzzer … I’m actually not too upset because they stink anyway.
Sports has been my life.
So naturally, I woke up at 5 a.m. on Monday to watch Game 3 of the Phillies-Rockies playoff series, since we have wireless Internet at our current location. It was my first chance to watch the Phillies since leaving home on August 11, and I wasn’t going to miss it. Or so I thought …
With the game tied 5-5 in the top of the eighth inning, the Phillies had two men on with two outs and the legendary Matt Stairs at the plate. If the previous sentence makes no sense to you, it means this was a crucial moment in the game. If Stairs blasts a home run like he’s famous for doing, my Phillies are cruising to victory. But then something strange happened. God spoke to my heart … with Matt Stairs at bat … in the eighth inning … with the score tied. Here is a transcription of the ensuing exchange:
God: So you’ll wake up at 5 a.m. to watch the Phillies, but when was the last time you got up that early to spend time with me?
Me: Um … tomorrow?
God: I thought you came on The World Race to put me first in your life … even above sports.
Me: OK God, you got me. Lesson learned. Tell you what … how ’bout we wait another 15 minutes for the game to end, and then we’ll hang out as long as you want.
God: Hmmmm … why wait? I want to hang out with you now.
Me: Yeah, um, I really appreciate your eagerness, but I’ve been watching this game for almost four hours now. I know you know this, but we’re kinda at a pivotal point here. … So 15 minutes?
God: …
Me: OK, you’re right. Now’s a perfect time.
God: Let’s go Phillies! (just kidding, He didn’t really say that)
So with my beloved Phillies tied 5-5 in the eighth inning with two men on, two outs, and Matt Stairs at the plate, I closed my laptop, grabbed my Bible, and went outside to hang out with God. This might not sound like a huge sacrifice to some people, but I have always wondered if I would be able to choose God over my sports teams if they were playing in a crucial situation. It’s easy to walk out on a regular season game, but the playoffs … when emotions are at their highest and the entire season is on the line? I mean c’mon, I’m just a man, right?
Well, it turns out I do have that kind of willpower. I have it because God freely gives it to me. He gives us everything we need to follow and obey Him. We just need to reach out and take it.
By the time I had finished reading and praying, the game was over. Turns out the Phillies won. I’m not saying they won simply because I put God first, but I felt blessed anyway. Personal time with God and a win for the Phils … mornings don’t get much better than that.
