by Emily Lopez
Most of us remember high school as a time of mixed emotions as we braved the teen years that launched us into a myriad of new experiences.
Regardless of age, occasions of exclusion and separation are binding experiences through every high school adventure. However, sharing in the frenzy of cheering on the school’s football team was a great equalizer for our student body. For a couple of hours, every person was united in spirit and exuberance as we enjoyed candy, soda and the occasional cheer antagonizing the opposing fans.
Fast forward a few decades and I still get excited to watch Friday night football games. Ten years as a high school parent has meant many fall nights under the stadium lights. Some of those years I’ve spent watching a son play, and others I have chauffeured friend groups and funded concession purchases. I have been blessed to cheer on our team and enjoy the contagious spirit of school pride.
In September, I experienced something spiritual on a football field. Our team was playing in south Kansas City against a much larger and very formidable opponent. We were playing hard, but arguably overmatched and clearly outscored nearing halftime.
Following a play, there were two of our opponent’s players injured and a timeout was given for medical care. As expected, one of the players slowly stood and walked off the field. The other player did not. It quickly became clear that this was beyond an ordinary injury. Medics remained on the field and emergency sirens could be heard approaching from a distance.
An unsettled feeling spread among the crowd; I can only imagine a similar unrest was felt among the players. I watched as our team came together on the sideline, gathering to kneel and pray. On a foreign field, in front of a strange crowd, for an unknown player — they prayed.
I was not expecting the level of emotion that swept over me. The home players, teammates of the injured player, milled about their sideline seemingly unsure of a proper response. Tears immediately filled my eyes as I realized that our team, in the midst of fear and uncertainty, turned to each other and to God. Outside of church and away from their parents, their response in that moment of uncertainty was to pray as a team.
We witnessed a valuable lesson that evening: a reminder that prayer must be our first response to fear. The light of their faith reflected something greater than winning a football game. On that Friday night, I witnessed a profound trust in God’s presence.
May our faithful response to uncertainty always be led with prayer, hope and a radical trust in our loving Father.
