Anyone who knows me knows my loyalty is to the King. But worldly ties persist, and the same people also know I am a Cornhusker at heart. Not a rabid one mind you–I do not recall foaming at the mouth, though I have been accused of that in the past.
Historically, the Nebraska Cornhuskers have been one of, if not THE most successful collegiate football programs–ever, anywhere, of all time. Former coach Tom Osborne was named the best college football coach of all time by ESPN. And not coincidentally (Dr. Osborne–a follower of the King–has a doctorate in educational psychology) Nebraska not only ranks as one of the most successful teams in terms of football, it holds the record for the most Academic All-Americans in the NCAA.
This year has been a bit different. With a new coach, and plagued by injuries, a team that could easily be 9-0 right now has had the worst start of any team in Nebraska history. You would think as a citizen of the Kingdom of God I would not be overly affected by this. You would be wrong. Worldly ties persist.
But they also teach.
For example, take the simple and almost hackneyed phrase, “Lord willing…”. James (4:5) reminds us that we can’t expect all our plans to automatically come to pass. Just as our expectations for this year’s team didn’t come to pass just because we wanted them to. Instead, we have to realize there is a much bigger picture we are not aware of. Ultimately, our plans aren’t important. Even though when things don’t go as we expect, we have a tendency to become discouraged. In the end, it is The Lord’s Will that counts.
Then there is the over reaching Christian imperative–love. Not attraction, enjoyment, infatuation–love. Wanting and doing what is best for the other. I can remember and enjoy the glory days of Cornhusker football–and I look forward to a return to those days! In the meantime, am I able to realize this is just a game (well, not if you are in Nebraska:-)) and to enjoy the fact that others–some of them friends–are enjoying the same feelings I had because their teams are doing well now? Can I rejoice with them?
And of course the most difficult thing for a Cornhusker fan today is continued loyalty. It is hard to be loyal to a fallen program dipping into the record books for negative results this time. Yet Cornhuskers aren’t loyal only in the good times. Perhaps this is a small exercise of the same loyalty required for the most important relationships. The loyalty of marriage isn’t just for the good times–but the proverbial “better or worse”. Further, scripture tells us marriage is a picture of the perfect intimacy we can have in our relationship with the King. But in this life, our faith–and faithfulness–cannot rely on things going “well” or according to our plan. Faith grows and is strengthened in times of difficulty, as we see the King drawing us through the hard times and the Spirit producing his fruit in us as we exercise spiritually.
So, it is good to be a Cornhusker fan after all. Not in celebration of victory after victory this year. But in celebration of the way the King leads us through life–teaching and preparing us for the final victory of the resurrection.
Go Big Red! 🙂
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