Jul 15, 2009
Meditation
When you think of an athlete desiring to be the best at his or her particular sport, what do you imagine them doing in order to get there? A football player may spend countless hours in meetings and in the film room, disecting a particular 3-4 defense or Cover 2 defense. An All-NBA defender may scout a top scorer for weeks, deciding where his weaknesses are on the court. A pitcher may weigh the strike zone of the league’s best hitter – what is he prone to swing at to induce a double play?
All these practices have the same concept underlying each of them: meditation. In order to achieve their potential, each player must go above and beyond to unlock those areas of talent that are, until that point, hidden. It’s working hard even when one feels like kicking back and watching Sportscenter. Matt Birk, Baltimore Ravens center, explains the grind of studying through the notorious NFL playbook:
“This is my 10th year in the league, and I still take my playbook home. Because the defenses are always changing, too. They’re always giving different looks. It’s kind of like a cat-and-mouse game between the offense and defense. That’s why football, I think, is a great game. Very few guys can get by on just talent.”
And this guy went to Harvard! He brings up an excellent point as well. The end result is not just to be better in and of yourself, but to have an edge over the enemy, which in football is the opponent. If Birk isn’t on his game, he is liable to get dominated by a defensive tackle on a stunt move. He always needs to be aware of his schemes, lest he become vulnerable at the most important times.
I think about these athletes and how seriously they train to become the best in the game. Shouldn’t we, as Christians, be striving for the same thing? Paul instructs us in 1 Timothy 4:7-10:
“Rather train yourself for godliness; for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come. The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance. For to this end we toil and strive, because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe.”
Just as in sports, Christianity requires training – reading God’s Word, praying without ceasing, filling our minds with pure thoughts. Paul says that all this is not in vain. We are to receive the prize of glory at the end of our struggle. That is one end to which sports will not provide. In sowing godliness in this present age, we will reap the privilege of seeing Jesus face to face one day. And about enemies: Paul asserts in Ephesians 6 that our war is not against the tangible things of this world – people or governments. No, our war is against the principalities that stand in opposition to the Word of God. The Bible talks about the devil prowling around like a lion, ready to devour.
Paul endlessly speaks on “standing firm” in the faith. That’s our call. And it comes through daily meditation on the good things of God. One final note: Unlike an athlete, we will never arrive, so to speak, in this life. God has far greater plans for his sons and daughters. He gives us this promise in 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24:
“May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it.”
