Sports (and God) Still Provide Hope

Throughout my life, I’ve simply enjoyed sports. From the lessons of competition to the art of character development, I’ve cherished everything about sports. Like many, I’ve often viewed athletics as a safe and healthy outlet as well as a needed diversion from the real issues of everyday life. Those few hours of entertainment, whether playing a pickup game or watching a professional match, usually provide a welcomed escape from the harshness of reality. For that brief moment in time—though war, hunger, abuse, racism, poverty, hate, neglect, tragedy, turmoil, illness, economic woes, and limitless sin runs rampantly out of control—all seems right with the world.

But in the last few months, the sporting world has too closely resembled society, providing little reprieve from the veracity of life. Seemingly daily, the landscape is filled with multiple reports of:  lying, cheating, resignations, stealing, greed, abuse, murder, self-centeredness, etc…not to mention the perversity of child molestation. I’ve found myself incredibly saddened and sickened by the complete lack of moral virtue in sports (and life for that matter),finding sports to be more vile than virtuous.

And yet, amidst scandal speculations, pending sanctions, legal infractions, and moral allegations, I’m still drawn to sports. I still believe it has the propensity to instill teamwork and healthy competition, I still believe it provides positive role models, I still believe it encourages perseverance and character development, I still believe it benefits society and provides a brighter future, and I still believe it is an universal language with the powerful ability to shape a culture, heal a nation, break down political, racial, and economical barriers while providing a non-threatening opportunity for the saving message of Jesus Christ to be presented.

So if you’re like me, and at times feel overwhelmed by the pain of life, hold onto the truth found in the Book of John, “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God.”

Editorial