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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Special to The Spokesman-Review: In Seahawks’ win, a glimpse of God’s grace

John Weston

Football matters to God. But it’s not because of great athleticism, or large numbers of fans, or even simply that this sport is an encouragement to so many of God’s people. God is not impressed by any player’s stats past or present. He’s definitely not impressed by the trash-talking and by-any-means-necessary attitude that some players and coaches exhibit. But Sunday we saw something rare and beautiful.

Two great teams went to the field, and one team played great, the other not-so-great. Any reasonable person could see that the defending Superbowl champion Seahawks after simply having a bad day were about to lose their shot at going to the Game of Games in back-to-back years. With four interceptions since the game clock had started, the writing was on the wall: Seattle was going to come up short.

But something happened.

The outcome did not go to the team that played consistently well. It didn’t go to the team that made all the right moves. Football fans know the succession of events – one thing after another that only a fool could have hoped for – that step-by-step – in just a few minutes – turned defeat into victory: Stuff that you can’t make up or plan out precisely.

Seattle got a miracle. Or maybe it was a series of little miracles. But when it was all over, our Pacific Northwest favorites were granted something they had all but lost fair and square. And when it was over, instead of swagger, trash-talking and bravado, we saw on our televisions the image of a quarterback in tears, kneeling on the game field, his brothers circled around him. The first words out of his mouth caught by the cameras:

“God is so good. All the time. Every time.”

What we saw Sunday was a glimpse of God’s grace. The winner was the loser. The lowly of the day was lifted up. Professional quarterbacks do not throw four interceptions in a championship game. And win. It just doesn’t happen. But it did Sunday. The Seahawks’ captain knew Someone bigger than himself had brought them to a moment that he will probably never forget, and which may eclipse even another Super Bowl win. It was grace. The Packers played great. They should have won.

King David was a great king. Some Jews believe he was the greatest. Christians see him as the foreshadowing of Jesus Christ who was descended from the famous monarch. King David was impressive. He united the Israelite nation. He secured their borders. He raised money and provided plans for the building of the first temple in Jerusalem, the foundation of which remains to this day.

But those aren’t the things that made David great in God’s eyes. David brought music and passion into the worship of God. He was loyal to his friends, mostly. And when he messed up, he confessed, made amends, and moved on. What impressed God about David? He knew that in the end, he was small, and God was big. He had heart.

Football matters to God because it’s an opportunity for multitudes to see not just great talent (which God gets credit for as Creator), but when players and coaches have heart. In that we can see what happens when God extends grace to the unworthy.

Sunday we could have seen cheeky comments and silly dances. But in those seconds following the game-winning touchdown (to a receiver who shared responsibility for two of the interceptions earlier in the game) the visceral response of the team leader was the tell. His face, even more than his words, told everything.

John Weston is a United Methodist minister, and the pastor of Sky Prairie Church in Post Falls.