7 Days of Super Bowl Stuff -SBXLIV- Day 5 “Discipline”
“You need to be that much more disciplined with what you’re doing and execution becomes that much more critical.” – Drew Brees.
In this clip, Saint Head Coach Sean Payton, Quarterback Drew Brees and Running Back Reggie Bush demonstrate their knowledge of their formidable opponent, the Colts. We see from their words their understanding of how good the other team is and especially in Brees’ section (:24-:44), he brings up an incredibly important topic of discipline. Discipline for these men on the football field is essential. Each player has a role, an assignment, a task. On each and every play, if each player doesn’t perform their task, the rest of the team suffers. It takes discipline, on every play, from everyone player, in order for their goal of the play to be successful. The players may need to remain disciplined when it comes to their foot work, to their hand placement, to their form, to their route, to their fake, to their block, to their gap assignment, to their zone, to their man, etc. and so on. Prior to each game, they must be disciplined with their workouts, their knowledge of the playbook, training, learning and taking care of their bodies. Each player plays a pivotal role in the success of each play.
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The same goes for us, in the spiritual life. We must become and remain disciplined in regards to our spiritual practices. We each have a specific role to play on our spiritual team, and when members of the team don’t perform, the rest of the team suffers. This is why we are referred to as the body of Christ. “…all the parts of the body, though many, are one body, so also Christ.” [Read: 1 Corinthians 12.] The discipline that we must have starts at the beginning of each day. Discipline involves our actions, words and thoughts. If we remain disciplined, our prayer lives are strong. We fight temptations. We make virtuous decisions. We live as Christ demonstrated for us. Discipline in the little things makes us disciplined in the big things.
If you’re struggling with discipline of a daily prayer life, I recommend that you focus on that. I share in your struggle, because prayer can be tough some days. Becoming disciplined in your prayer means that you spend time, daily, speaking to God. If you’re a married man, imagine not speaking to your wife for a month, and see how good the relationship is at the end of the month. Probably not very good. God is the same way. Open your heart to Him and speak. However, God gave us two ears and only one mouth… listen twice as much as you speak.
Man up!
7 Days of Super Bowl Stuff – SBXLIV – Day 2 “Crowning a Champion”
This is my latest article on iibloom.com, posted Feb 1, 2010:
The countdown has begun; t-minus 6 days and counting until the big game. Super Bowl XLIV is upon us, one of the biggest spectacles in all of sports and entertainment. The anticipation of the game is on the minds of many sports fans across the country. The anticipation of the commercials, which might be the larger anticipation, is on the minds of television fans and of “people who like parties with lots of food.” In the end, there will be a winning team (the champions) and a losing team. It may be the team you are rooting for, it might not. 50/50. Win: go down in history. Lose: be forgotten.
It’s easy for us to get into the stereotypical (“dumb ox”) mindset when it comes to football…”ugh…me like football, mmm, smash, kill, score, win…ugh.” It’s easy to yell at the television, even though we know they can’t hear us and that the play we’re yelling about is already history. It’s easy to stuff our faces full of greasy food during any given game. It’s easy to become involved, in an unhealthy way, in the fantasy of the game. Don’t get me wrong, there’s nothing intrinsically evil about football, and in the right context, is perfectly normal and healthy, however, we should guard against a few tendencies that are common in our society.
- We must realize that football is a game and has no bearing on what our goal in life should be – getting to Heaven.
- We shouldn’t try to live (vicariously or otherwise) through our favorite football team or all-star players.
- We should never allow football to take precedence over family time.
- We should never allow football to take precedence over our responsibilities.
- We should “consume” football in reasonable, moderate amounts.
Maybe football isn’t your thing, and you could care less about the Super Bowl, or the commercials. That’s fine. Substitute the worldly thing in your life that you enjoy the most for the word football in the five sentences above. (Shopping, Watching movies/television, Going to concerts, etc.)
Reporters often ask coaches what their “game plan” is and if getting to the Superbowl was in the plan from the beginning. What a ridiculous question! Of course it was in their plan, it’s every coach’s plan, and it should always be their plan as long as they’re coaching! No coach, or player, ever goes into a season playing for second-best. The goal is always to win! Liken this to our goals in life. If we go into our season without a game plan, without a set of plays and without the playbook, we’ll easily be defeated. We should go into the game of life with the goal of winning.
Our “season” is our life. The “game plan” is our daily plan of how we’re going to grow closer to Christ. The “set of plays” are our everyday prayers, actions, choices and the Mass and our “playbook” is Sacred Scripture. If we set a goal of achieving the title of “champion” (a Saint in Heaven), we’re much more likely to be granted that salvation than if we never decide to shoot for anything in life. Set your goal towards God.
Many coaches are constantly telling their players to be humble, play hard and to not underestimate their opponents. They realize that their team isn’t perfect, while at the same time continuing to shoot for perfection. Their positive and optimistic outlook guides their team towards greatness. We should all be shooting for greatness too. God wants our best, given freely to him, in all we do.
In the little things (hosting a Super Bowl party, being a guest at one, making comments about the plays, the calls or the commercials) during the game (and always), be aware of your words, your actions and your thoughts. A true follower of Christ never makes someone call into question his motivation, his intent or his character. Give God your very best and you’ll be crowned a champion!
Man up!
