12/12/11

Tim Tebow: grace on the gridiron

Yes, that's Ephesians 2:8-10*
In yesterday's Boston Globe, Kevin Paul Dupont gives us a thoughtful take on the Tebow phenomenon.
Tim Tebow is making a lot of sports fans uneasy, some of us angry, others even defiant. The 24-year-old Denver Broncos quarterback figures he has God on his side, and he’s fairly matter-of-fact about it. Whenever the spirit moves him, he references his Lord and Savior in his interviews, which are mainly about football but typically, and predictably, stray off into the mysterious acres of spirituality.

Tebow, with 10 starts on his NFL résumé, has dropped God squarely on the gridiron’s 50-yard line, and a lot of us don’t really know what the devil to do about it. Tebow likely won’t be a Pro Bowler this year, but as a premier preacher, he is so far down the block and around the corner that not even a pack of Harley-ridin’, Bible-thumpin’ Jehovah Witnesses would have a prayer at running him down.

Granted, whether you’re OK with the God thing or not, believer or disbeliever, it’s all a little weird by today’s standards. I think in large part that’s because God just isn’t included in our daily conversation, like the old days.
(Read the complete article here)

I'm not a big sports fan but what I've seen of and read about Tebow seems genuine.  His might not be my brand of spirituality - or yours - but the Body of Christ has many members and each of us is unique.

But how about the underlying theme in Kevin's article? How do we talk about God these days?  Indeed, do we talk about God in our own times?  And if we don't, why not?

Thoughts?

* For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not from you; it is the gift of God; it is not from works, so no one may boast. For we are his handiwork, created in Christ Jesus for the good works that God has prepared in advance, that we should live in them.   Eph 2: 8-10


 

 
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2 comments:

  1. Fabulous article on many levels... when growing up in the 50's and 60's so much was taboo...(including BTW the peeping Tom who lived on our street..we kids could never understand my mother's obsession with the blinds being closed!!!!)
    Today we DO talk about everything..nothing is sacred BUT the sacred! I am grateful to social networking and blogs for giving some of us the opportunity to reach out...but face to face can be such a challenge!! Heaven knows I am even hesitating to suggest that my adult children and our grandchildren join us for Mass on Christmas Eve...
    Hmmm... maybe I know what my New Years resolution should be!!!!

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  2. I received my latest copy of TIME magazine yesterday and it contained an article about Tim Tebow. On the radio today I heard that Tebowing has become a part of the English language. Were it not for reading your blogpost yesterday I wouldn't have had a clue as to who this was or what it was all about. Once in a while I read the sports section of the Globe, but had missed Kevin's article. So thank you for keeping me informed!

    What did come to mind for me was that many years ago I was struck by the number of basketball players that made the sign of the cross before making a free throw. Since I rarely go to sporting events or watch on TV, I don't know if this still occurs.

    Rosemary

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