#4 I let go of my sports highs and lows.
I'm a sports junkie! I love sports! Specifically anything related to any of the following teams...
-University of Tennessee Football
-University of Tennessee Basketball
-Atlanta Braves
-Atlanta Falcons
Sports has been and still is a big part of my life. I lived and almost died with the Braves teams of the 90's, and I'm pumped about the new era that's beginning in the ATL. I remember being so excited when they would win division title after division title only to experience heartbreak 13 out of 14 years when they failed to win the World Series. During the Chris Lofton days of UT basketball I would literally feel like I was about to pop blood vessels because I would get so into the games. Jennifer and my close family can testify to both of these.
Well, this past year, being the first year with a baby in the house, as I was releasing some of my passion during a game, I freaked Kaden out, and he started crying. After doing this several times, I realized that I was maybe a little too wrapped up into the games. Furthermore, I would often suffer from sports hangovers. You know, when your favorite team gets beat and you feel like you literally lost the game yourself the next morning.
With all of this being said, I still love my sports. I still cheer, get excited, and watch all the games that I can. However, I've toned it down several notches. I haven't freaked Kaden out since the UT vs LSU football game, and considering what happened against UNC last night, that's pretty good. In the past, I would've woken him up when all that mess was going on, and then he would've been wide awake, and Jennifer would've been ready to kill me for waking him up.
Basically, I feel like I haven't lost this passion inside of me; I've just channeled it in a new direction... towards my family and our church. Trying to be the best husband, dad, and pastor (in that order) pretty much consumes my passions now. So here's the takeaway for you... Don't quit following sports. I'm not. Cheer with all you have for your team. I will. Just make sure sports isn't the thing that's keeping you up at night and determining your mood the next day because I can promise you there are probably people in your life who would love it if you were that passionate and in tune with them!
Just remember that sin can be Anything that gets in the way of Gods will in your life this includes sports and any other way the devil can cloud or drag you away from God's will. Many people are guilty of this; to they get very excitied over sports and trivial things like the newest video game, but merely clap there hands when someone makes a decision to join the ultimate team and fight for God against the devil this is how so many people find themselves choked out by the metaphorical thorns Jesus talks about. The thorns Jesus talks about is the sins of the world but Christians are forgiven sinners so if Christians can choke out the New light New Christians have found we have ultimatly defeated ourselves by not building up the next generation wich will progressively degenerate the Christians fight against the devil in the ongoing war that we fight everyday. -JTW-
ReplyDeleteI've been feeling this way for a long time, I love sports and what's funny is all the teams you listed are my favorites as well...I seem to let them consume me at times, I am now focused and ready to live my life with my priorites in line, I will still watch my Vols on Saturday and my Falcons on Sunday (After church)...Just with a new look, i've been looking for a sign from god of where I need to be, this could be it...I will be at church on Sunday.
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