Monday, December 06, 2004
Man cannot serve both the Broncos and Mammon
It didn't necessarily take the Son of God or the Great Emancipator to realize that it isn't good to divide a body into two. Anyone who has lived for even a short stint of time can soon recognize the problems that come along with polarizing a heart.
Whether it is finding yourself falling in love with a second "someone" in your life, trying to juggle a secular life with a holy one, or having a hard time rooting for just one NFL team, the heart just doesn't handle being divided very well. As a matter of fact, serving two masters often begins to ruin other aspect of your life. It seeps in and eats away at the edges of your mind.
I've had a few experiences in this; I'll start with a lighthearted one. I am a big football fan, and as years roll on, I love the NFL more and more (and like baseball less and less). Living where I do (Iowa) I am smack dab in the middle of the country, so my loyalties aren't automatically required of any one team. The Chiefs, Broncos, Rams, Bears, Vikings, and Packers are all reasonable "local" picks, but it really is a free for all. The only preferences my father ever put on me was that we used to live in Colorado, so we rooted for the Broncos. As I grew up and got into football, I started to like personalities over teams, so I always rooted for teams that had players I liked.
This list included Falcons (Chris Miller), Chiefs (Derrick Thomas), and Giants (David Meggett). But once I moved back to Colorado, I had to root for the Broncos. Not only because I lived there, but because they were good, fun, and exciting to watch in that era (Elway, Smith, Davis, Elam, Romo). So from then on, the Denver Broncos have been my team.
But I also have a non-sexual man-crush on Brett Favre. That guy is one tough mother. I can't help but root for the guy, even when he is having his breakdowns (a lot fewer of these lately). When he lost his dad, I honestly felt bad for him, as if he was a friend of mine. Then recently he has discovered that his wife is battling cancer, which made me feel for him again. I root for the Pack whenever I can.
Add to all of this the fact that the newbie Houston Texans beat the Cowboys in their first game ever, which sealed my love for them for life. They had a lot of heart, and still do. I am a big Carr fan, and I love how he was the most sacked QB in a single season, yet got up and played every down.
Back to my main point... this division of loyalties can be painful. When I wear my Green Bay hat, I get a lot of flack from those who know I am a Denver fan, and a lot of hate from non-fans. When I wear my Broncos hat, I get a lot of ribbing when they lose, and a lot of hate from the Chiefs and Raiders fans around here. Things get worse when I watch games between teams I like. Do I root for the Pack or Texans? It's less confusing when it is the Broncos, but still, I hate to see the Texans lose... It all adds up to this; I'm not happy no matter what. And when you back three horses, and all three lose (like yesterday), it can make for a long Sunday.
The same thing goes for romance. Be careful which and how many horses you back. :) Even if it is as seemingly innocent of a unrequited and unrevealed crush, it tends to cloud other relationships you have. You act different. You get defensive. You daydream. Your focus has been altered, in even just slightly.
My hearts biggest division (that I'll admit to) has to do with the role of the Geist and the Brain. Can I juggle what I see to be proper, scientific sense with the nonsense of religion? I can no more completely sell out to the notion of talking donkeys, devilish snakes, floods, and magic stars than I can completely write off an ultimate creator, a savior, and life that had purpose and meaning. I have a hard time praying anymore, because I find myself torn; am I doing this to cover my bases, or am I honestly trying to communicate with this invisible something? It is a rare occasion that I truly put in a heartfelt prayer, and it usually is on behalf of my friends and family when they are in need. The problem is further complicated because I know what I should be saying, and how I should be acting... but if I did, it wouldn't be from belief, but from training. I think I do a good job being true to myself and to God, but it causes a lot of inner turmoil... turmoil that is only aggravated further by those who seem to think they have their side figured out and are impatient with those who do not.
So, whether you listen to Jesus (or those who wrote what Jesus allegedly said), Abe Lincoln, or me, rest assured that the heart needs to be unified to work well. Don't divide it, or you will lead a very confusing and melancholy life. Go Broncos, go favorite-person-in-the-world, and go skepticism. For now.
Horns up!
Whether it is finding yourself falling in love with a second "someone" in your life, trying to juggle a secular life with a holy one, or having a hard time rooting for just one NFL team, the heart just doesn't handle being divided very well. As a matter of fact, serving two masters often begins to ruin other aspect of your life. It seeps in and eats away at the edges of your mind.
I've had a few experiences in this; I'll start with a lighthearted one. I am a big football fan, and as years roll on, I love the NFL more and more (and like baseball less and less). Living where I do (Iowa) I am smack dab in the middle of the country, so my loyalties aren't automatically required of any one team. The Chiefs, Broncos, Rams, Bears, Vikings, and Packers are all reasonable "local" picks, but it really is a free for all. The only preferences my father ever put on me was that we used to live in Colorado, so we rooted for the Broncos. As I grew up and got into football, I started to like personalities over teams, so I always rooted for teams that had players I liked.
This list included Falcons (Chris Miller), Chiefs (Derrick Thomas), and Giants (David Meggett). But once I moved back to Colorado, I had to root for the Broncos. Not only because I lived there, but because they were good, fun, and exciting to watch in that era (Elway, Smith, Davis, Elam, Romo). So from then on, the Denver Broncos have been my team.
But I also have a non-sexual man-crush on Brett Favre. That guy is one tough mother. I can't help but root for the guy, even when he is having his breakdowns (a lot fewer of these lately). When he lost his dad, I honestly felt bad for him, as if he was a friend of mine. Then recently he has discovered that his wife is battling cancer, which made me feel for him again. I root for the Pack whenever I can.
Add to all of this the fact that the newbie Houston Texans beat the Cowboys in their first game ever, which sealed my love for them for life. They had a lot of heart, and still do. I am a big Carr fan, and I love how he was the most sacked QB in a single season, yet got up and played every down.
Back to my main point... this division of loyalties can be painful. When I wear my Green Bay hat, I get a lot of flack from those who know I am a Denver fan, and a lot of hate from non-fans. When I wear my Broncos hat, I get a lot of ribbing when they lose, and a lot of hate from the Chiefs and Raiders fans around here. Things get worse when I watch games between teams I like. Do I root for the Pack or Texans? It's less confusing when it is the Broncos, but still, I hate to see the Texans lose... It all adds up to this; I'm not happy no matter what. And when you back three horses, and all three lose (like yesterday), it can make for a long Sunday.
The same thing goes for romance. Be careful which and how many horses you back. :) Even if it is as seemingly innocent of a unrequited and unrevealed crush, it tends to cloud other relationships you have. You act different. You get defensive. You daydream. Your focus has been altered, in even just slightly.
My hearts biggest division (that I'll admit to) has to do with the role of the Geist and the Brain. Can I juggle what I see to be proper, scientific sense with the nonsense of religion? I can no more completely sell out to the notion of talking donkeys, devilish snakes, floods, and magic stars than I can completely write off an ultimate creator, a savior, and life that had purpose and meaning. I have a hard time praying anymore, because I find myself torn; am I doing this to cover my bases, or am I honestly trying to communicate with this invisible something? It is a rare occasion that I truly put in a heartfelt prayer, and it usually is on behalf of my friends and family when they are in need. The problem is further complicated because I know what I should be saying, and how I should be acting... but if I did, it wouldn't be from belief, but from training. I think I do a good job being true to myself and to God, but it causes a lot of inner turmoil... turmoil that is only aggravated further by those who seem to think they have their side figured out and are impatient with those who do not.
So, whether you listen to Jesus (or those who wrote what Jesus allegedly said), Abe Lincoln, or me, rest assured that the heart needs to be unified to work well. Don't divide it, or you will lead a very confusing and melancholy life. Go Broncos, go favorite-person-in-the-world, and go skepticism. For now.
Horns up!
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