Ma, Batten Down Dem Shutters! De Be A Storm Comin!

Over there! See ‘em? See those clouds forming to the South? Yep, there’s a major storm coming that rears its ugly head every year at this time. Some refer to it as a mini-Civil War – pitting brother against brother and dividing even the closest of family and friends. Many look at its activity as a true religion, turning the most spiritually sound to the practice of worshiping false gods. People have been shot, new relationships have ended, and divorce proceedings have been filed more during this yearly activity than at any other time.

This storm that I speak of is better known as college football!

You see by living in the South, there is nothing more noticeable than the way that folks tend to live, breathe, and eat all matters that deal with college football. And though more obvious when the season comes around, many will talk, argue, and proudly display their fandom throughout the entire year – flying flags, plastering their vehicles with magnetic stickers, or even updating the rooms in their homes dedicated solely toward their favorite team. And if that’s not enough, children and pets have been named after coaches or players, and engagements or weddings have taken place either on the schools grounds or even within the teams’ stadiums – all in an effort to include some type of a remembrance of their team.

Now for the most part, it’s not a bad thing to support ones team. That good conversation between fans or to constantly back your favorite team is a good way to socialize. However, some DO take this a bit further - making some walk precariously between what’s really right and important in life, compared to what isn’t.

In my latest book, ‘George’ – one that deals with its main character having to go through an ‘exit interview’ before being decided whether to enter Heaven or Hell – his interviewer conducts the exam by correlating Georges’ past life with the Ten Commandments. And it’s through this conversation where I tried to express one of my concerns on some of this fanatical activity:

 “Were there any types of rituals that you did, say…before, during, or after one of those games, George? Maybe in hopes that WHATEVER it was that that it would help your team win?”

George looked down and shrugged his shoulders nonchalantly. “Well, I guess so,” he replied. “You see, before going into the stadium I would casually stand in front of a statue - one of a past coach - say a little prayer, and then leave a pom-pom at its base. By doing that, it just seemed that my team either won more often! Worked like a charm!” George stated a bit proudly.

           

“Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them or serve them…. Graven image? What part of that don’t you understand, George?” cracked Hutchins. “A bit of a ‘fine line’, don’t ya think?”

Surprised by the response, George sat back in his chair and thought. “Really? I mean, it was only a football game.”

“And I bet you had a room dedicated in your house for that team of yours, didn’t you?”

“Well, yeah.”

“Did you have another room in your house dedicated to God?”

So folks, just think about it. I guess the best ‘food for thought’ is to prioritize what REALLY is important in your lives and not let things you can’t really control take the best of you – spiritually. Try to remember that life and love is worth more than any team, player, or coach. That if you take the time to go to a football game – or to watch one – on Saturday, then you have plenty of time to consider going to Church, reading a spiritual book, or even volunteering on Sunday.

But anyway for now, enjoy the season! I love college football myself and can totally relate to all who follow it.

And as for what’s starting to form along the horizon? As a boy in the country might scream to his mother from the fields, ‘Ma, batten down dem shutters! De be a storm comin!’