Tomorrow everything changes.
Some may believe that everything changes after the November election, but dare I suggest: tomorrow everything changes more. And perhaps even more noticeable, the change will last for quite some time… for days, weeks, months… at least until winter is well upon us.
Tomorrow, no less, is the day, when many reasonably intelligent people begin to justifiably act a little, incredibly nutty…
Beginning with a little town in northeast Wisconsin, folks will care less about the zillions of dollars spent on the recent divisiveness of state politics. They will instead quickly unite behind a powerful meat-Packing team, riding on the arm of Aaron Rodgers and his beloved, Green Bay football cohorts.
Out will also come the Lions and Tigers and Bears… oh, wait, Tigers play baseball… but out will come the Lions and Bears… and while my keen sense is the teams don’t like each other all that much, within their people group, they are united indeed.
I notice the unity elsewhere…
… in the Patriotic type, for example, a people group that always seems so solid and sound regardless of the partisans in Washington; their massive defense budget never seems up for debate.
… and let’s not forget those united, yellow towel-wavers from the Steel City. Some call them “terrible.” I doubt that. After all, the Steelers seem to win more than most. The rest of the sporting world just isn’t quite as polite when their opponents are doing most of the winning.
Yes, tomorrow everything changes…
With the Dallas Cowboys at the New York Giants, the NFL begins their 2012-13 season.
It’s a little odd; I mean, there’s a newfound fascination with the backup quarterback in Jet land, and Peyton Manning is wearing orange. (Not sure it looks good on him.)
Also, like the recent divisiveness in Wisconsin, there is a labor dispute within the nation. No, not with the players or teachers of the game; this dispute is with the union referees.
(…some days, don’t you just wish people could get along?)
All this change and nutty enthusiasm that accompanies the NFL season reminds me of both the unity and divisiveness that currently marks our land.
The divisiveness is obvious. Too often, too much, we focus on what divides us; instead of accepting self circumstances and celebrating others’ blessedness and success, we too often compare ourselves with those around us, thinking, “That should have been me.” There is simply too much me.
The beauty, therefore, of the NFL season is that the teams that are most successful and arrive at Super Bowl XLVII in New Orleans in February of 2013, will be the teams that are most united in purpose and performance. They are unlikely to have a coach who operates from a perspective of “too much me.” They are also unlikely to be led by a quarterback who thinks he is God’s gift to his team, state, or country. No, the teams in the Super Bowl will be marked by an excellence that comes only via unity and hard work — knowing their purpose, accepting and embracing the need to work together…
… and of course, accepting and appreciating those nutty fans.
Watch for the unity in Pittsburgh and Green Bay. It can be nutty… but attractive and kind of contagious, too.
Respectfully,
AR