Tight pants and a funny-shaped ball

Daryl Kroeker

Although I enjoy it, it's really kind of silly--grown men wearing tight pants, trying to push each other over so they can have a turn at playing with a funny-shaped ball. They begin in a compact little circle to chat about who knows what. After they have lined up in a hunched-over position, one calls out code words as he puts his hands under another's bottom and reaches to get the ball. Then comes the pushing and shoving. It seems like the man with the ball gets scared and gives it to someone else, who tries to run away with it. When he is caught and pushed over, the whole process is repeated until one team gets the ball over a line at the end of the field. Then comes much dancing, jumping and bum patting.

The humorous thing is this: People pay a lot of money to watch this process! Some go wearing funny clothes and painted faces. Others take flags or banners. But there they sit, rain or shine, cold or warm, cheering on these men with the tight pants. Clapping and shouting, they enjoy the headaches and bruises dished out on the field below.

When you stop to think, it seems absurd. But then so does life when lived without an understanding of its purpose and meaning.

Most people spend lots of time going through the daily rituals that have become a part of life. They get up with the alarm, shower, dress, head out the door and weave their way through a maze of traffic to punch a clock at the appropriate time. They work the day away and then return home to get ready to do it all again the next day. And for what? A piece of paper that is handed out every two weeks but seems to last for only one?

Day after day, week after week, year after year, the process goes on and on and on. Occasionally there is some celebrating and dancing and cheering, but generally daily life is just basic drudgery and empty routine. It can be just like football to the uninitiated.

But life can be so much more than that! It can be rich and rewarding, meaningful and fulfilling, vibrant and happy. How? Well, like the game of football, to play and enjoy it, you have to understand the object or goal. Second, you must know and play by the rules. Third, you must recognize your role in the larger scheme of things.

The Bible addresses all three issues in terms of the game of life: "The fear (or worship) of the Lord (God, the object of life) is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow His pre~cepts (the rules of life) have good understanding. To Him belongs eternal praise (your role in life)" (Psalm 111:10).

The men in the tight pants know what they are doing and are having fun as they go through the rituals of playing with the funny-shaped ball. So can you when it comes to everyday life.

Daryl Kroeker is an associate pastor at Willingdon Church in Burnaby, B.C.

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