Christ is passionate for soccer?!?!?!?

As I write this, I am watching Mexico vs. Chile in the Copa America (America Cup) 2011 hosted by Argentina. I have been watching all of the games of this championship and just about all of them have ended with surprises. In most cases this means that they have ended in ties. Argentina tied Bolivia. Ecuador tied Paraguay. Uruguay tied Peru. Brazil tied Venezuela. And just seconds ago, Chile scored a tying goal against a much younger Mexican team. I know most Americans dont understand or appreciate soccer. We don't understand the excitement of the game, the artistry of the plays or why in the world people break out in riots because of it. And why in the world am I talking about this in a blog about faith.

Well, to put it simply, it is all about passion. Soccer teaches us about a passion for life. A passion for a sport that is likely the most physically difficult in the world. A passion for an attention span to something that, at least as Americans, we don't always understand. Soccer in many ways is a mirror for the kind of faith that Jesus calls us to. A faith of passion. A faith of attending to those we don't always agree with or understand. The difference of course can be in the division that exists in any sport between the players, the fans, the spectators. But in the end, whatever happens, we all agree that the passion for this worldly diversion can teach us about how we should live our lives in the calling that Christ gives us. Living out our faith won't always be easy. At times we will come up against that which we don't like or don't understand. But with passion and perserverance, this sport of life, can end victoriously.

As I began this blog, I mentioned that for Americans, we just can't understand how in the world a game can end in a tie. Maybe this is a concept we should become more conversant about. In reality, when we perservere in life, in faith, in the love of Christ, we are victorious, even when that around us seems to remain the same, the score tied, in our hearts we still feel the passion of Christ, the passion of love, the passion of living the service that we are called to by Christ himself.

Let's be passionate! And to end on a personal note (which will be understood by anyone who knows me), "Let's go, Argentina!!!!