The Gift of the Moment

Saturday morning, we woke very early and made the trek to Columbus for the annual clash between Ohio State and Michigan (won by the Buckeyes 37-7). All week I had been reading comments from some of Ohio State's senior football players talking about the game and how they could not believe that their careers as a Buckeye were coming to an end.

Dane Sazenbacher (pictured above in Saturday's game) was quoted often in our local paper because he is a Toledoan. He shared about how emotional the week would be for him and that his career just seemed to fly by.

On football Saturday mornings in Columbus, the band and thousands of fans gather at St. John Arena (OSU's old basketball arena) for the "skull session." The band runs through their pre-game and halftime shows in preparation for the afternoon's game which helps to get the fans fired up. Immediately before this (2 hours before kickoff), the team stops in on their way to the stadium to get prepared for the game. One of the senior players says a few short words and then Coach Jim Tressel addresses the crowd. The players then leave to the band playing "Fight the Team." It is a very cool thing!

This past Saturday at skull session, I kept watching Sanzenbacher as he walked in, something he had done close to 30 times now in his career. This time was different though. He could not stop looking around. It was obvious he was taking it all in, knowing this would be the last time he experienced this as a player. This emotional moment even got to me. I tried to explain what was happening to my family but I found it very difficult to speak as I was so choked up.

The thought occurred to me that Sanzenbacher might like to go back to relive some of these moments in his past four years, knowing now that he will not have another one. It's possible that he took these moments for granted and just now, as he approached the end, realized how special these moments were and are.

The same is true for me. I know that I take many moments for granted. I take my breathing for granted. I take my family for granted. I take the sun for granted. The list goes on and on.

The fact is, the breath I just took could be my last. It is possible that the next time I see each of my family members could be my last. I am not saying this to be morbid, but rather so we might realize that every moment is a gift to be cherished. I hope to be looking around in awe at my everyday moments the way Dane Sanzenbacher was on Saturday. I hope to not take anything for granted! I hope that I realize how much of a gift this present moment is. How about you?

Why, you don not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.

James 4:14

Bad Things Happen

Tate Forcier loses a fumble in the end-zone early in the game resulting in a Buckeye touchdown

On Saturday, my son and I took the 45 minute trip north to Ann Arbor to watch The Game, Ohio State vs. Michigan in what most say is the greatest rivalry in all of sports.

Being Buckeyes, Robbie and I were thrilled with the 21-10 Ohio State victory, their sixth in a row over the Wolverines. Ohio State was able to come up with five turnovers, all from Michigan's quarterback, Tate Forcier.

On Sunday, we watched the recording of the ABC telecast. Matt Millen who was providing color commentary for the game said this of Forcier, "Bad things happen to all players. It's how you react that matters."

So true.

A friend of mine once asked me, "If someone spits on you does that make you mad?"

I said, "Absolutely."

He said, "No it doesn't. It makes you wet. It's your choice to be mad."

He had me. He was right.

We are all going to face challenges and obstacles in this life. How we respond to them will determine the type of person we will become.

"I have told you these things so that in Me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."

Jesus in John 16:33

Working to Glorify Him

Reggie Bush, the star running back for the USC Trojans and now the New Orleans Saints made it fashionable to write something on your "eye black" stickers. Many players wear these to cut down on glare from the sun and I believe many wear them simply to be cool. Bush used to write his area code of his home town on his and many players have begun to do the same thing.

On Saturday in Ohio State's lopsided win over arch-rival Michigan, James Laurinaitis, the Buckeye's star linebacker also had something written on his eye black stickers. He had "John" on one and "17:1" on the other.

John 17:1 says, After Jesus said this, he looked toward heaven and prayed: "Father, the time has come. Glorify your Son, that Your Son may glorify You."

Two months ago I was asked to speak to a leadership bible study group in Toledo. While there I met a young man who is involved with Fellowship of Christian Athletes at Ohio State. He shared with me that James Laurinaitis is one of a handful of players who rarely miss a meeting and he said he is on fire for Christ. He said he is the real deal.

This is so refreshing. So, to me, Laurinaitis was saying that he wanted his play to glorify Christ on Saturday. How cool is that? Let's let what we do glorify Him today!

Pride Before The Fall

Many of you know that I am a huge Ohio State football fan. I was born in Columbus while my Dad was in dental school there and I think I was dropped on my head, so I'm a little brain damaged about the Buckeyes.

Tomorrow they will play Michigan for the 105th time. It is the greatest rivalry in sports. This year is a little strange because Michigan is struggling and has the most losses (8) they have ever had in program history. The Buckeyes have also under-achieved this year but at nine wins and two losses, they are heavy favorites (20 1/2 points).

I have talked to many Michigan fans and a few Ohio State fans who think this is going to be a blowout and that Ohio State is going to win big. I don't feel this way. I hope they are right, but I believe it is going to be much closer than everyone says. In this rivalry game, anything can happen.

I remember in 1996, Ohio State was beating everyone by an average of something like 30 points a game. They appeared unstoppable. That year they were an 18 point favorite over Michigan. Michigan won.

In the mid to late 80s, Earle Bruce was coaching his last game for the Buckeyes and they were heavy underdogs playing in Ann Arbor. Ohio State won.

In 1969, Bo Schembechler was coaching the Wolverines in his first Ohio State, Michigan game and his team was a huge underdog. This was perhaps Woody Hayes' best Buckeye team he had ever coached. Michigan won.

In this game, the record books can be thrown out. Anyone can win. That's one of the reasons this is such a great rivalry. I hope the Buckeyes aren't too sure of themselves!

The Bible even weighs in on this topic in Proverbs 16:18:

Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.

Go Bucks!