DAILY DOSE OF HOPE – BLOG – NAIMA LETT
NFL Controversy Mirrors Life
© NaimaLett.com/blog

Who doesn’t love a little controversy?!
OK, a lot of controversy!

Monday Night Football showed the world last night why it’s the most dramatic of all reality shows. Bump American Idol or The Voice. Who needs The Real Housewives? Folks are still fighting about who actually won the Packers/Seahawks game last night.

Whether you follow football or not, you can appreciate the disarray this decision has caused!

On the last play of the game, the Seattle Seahawk’s Golden Tate was given the 14-12 game-winning touchdown, but the officials gave conflicting signals. One has his hands up like TOUCHDOWN, the other is waving no-can-do like, TOUCHBACK.

When you look at the 60-second video above, what do you think? Exactly.

They both have hands on it. But looks like Green Bay’s M.D. Jennings has two hands on the ball and Seattle’s Tate has one hand on ball. When they hit the ground, it looks like the ball is on the chest of the Packers, but the touchdown is given to Seattle because in review, “the incidence is ruled a simultaneous catch, in which case a tie goes to the offense,” in this case Seattle.

Many are blaming the mess on the fact that there are substitute referees in because of the referee lockout. DRAMA!!!

What I love is that E! News Ken Baker, who mostly reports celebrity news and fashion, is asking things like, “When did the NFL become a game of Twister?” Love it!

But isn’t this what our own life looks like many times?

What about our own disagreements?
We want to desperately believe that the way we see things is the “right” way, so therefore we should “win”. But, 2 people can look at the same situation (just like those referees) and see 2 different things.

You see a touchdown. He sees a touchback.
You see a pass completion. She sees an interception.
And then you fight.
Over a ball.
Like your life depended on it.

Thank goodness we, like the refs, have a rule book to help in making decisions. Not to oversimplify things, but many of our disagreements could be solved a little easier if we took a step back, took a deep breath, watched the replay together and figured out what we are actually fighting over. It also wouldn’t hurt to consult our own guidebook, the Bible.

I’ve used the example before, but it works here. Recently, before Sunday service, my husband and I got into a disagreement about batteries for the recording equipment. He’s responsible for all things technical, but I’m the one who uses the microphone. I thought he should order the batteries in bulk, and he thought I should pick them up when I make the weekly store run. The result: we had no batteries before service, and we were both blaming each other.

But here’s the thing, we weren’t actually fighting about batteries. Our issue was deeper than that. We were trying to figure out who is responsible for what and who is doing what in this whole big thing we call a church. Once we figured out the real issue, we could have a calm, meaningful conversation about how to solve the problem.

For me, I was reminded of Proverbs 15:1, “A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger,” and Proverbs 16:24, “Gracious words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.” How I say things is just as important as what I say. I’m blunt and forthright, but I can still taper that with gentleness and graciousness in a way that does not intentionally stir up anger, right?

Life can be a series of controversial calls.
We’re not going to agree with folks most of the time. The fact that we agree any of the time is amazing to me, seeing as we all grew up in different houses in different cultures with different points of view. Let’s do our best to look at the situations as objectively as possible, armed with biblical truth and compassion for one another and in a spirit of love.

That being said, it sucks if you’re a Green Bay fan right now. My condolences. And you are truly fanatical. We’ve seen you in action, up close and personal. I don’t mess with Green Bay fans.

To the Seahawks, looks like you eeked out a doozy here. Please know that the rest of the season, you will be under much scrutiny.

And if more NFL games are going to end up like a game of Twister, bring it on!
Bring it on,
Naima

You watch the video? What did you think?

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