Jesus, Joe and Brian Campbell (or how I want my faith to look more like my love for HOCKEY)

It was inevitable that I'd blog about hockey. I think about it constantly. I'm sure those around me tune me out, or are annoyed, or uninterested (or all). But that is part of my life now. And since the season ended yesterday and post-season playoff hockey is about to begin (on Wednesday for the Sharks--I'm going with my brother!), I figured it was a good time for this post.

At the beginning of this past season I was having a discussion about hockey with some friends (who actually like/care about hockey too). I was talking about how much I loved to watch Joe Thornton on the ice. He was my hero. And from a girl who really didn't care much about sports in the past, having a sports hero was a big thing. It so happened that this conversation was at a church lunch so I was joking that it was Jesus and Joe as my heroes. Two people who I held in very high esteem. I even named my cat after one. It's my brother's fault that I have learned to admire Joe so much. He talks about him endlessly during games (and before and after) about how well he skates, how he controls the puck, knows the game, ect.I now even watch more for what Joe does, if he has an assist then who actually scored--and Thornton has has plenty of goals himself this season! I have learned to appreciate his talent. He's not bad on the eyes but having people assume that I only like Thornton because of his looks is getting little old. Can't a girl have a sports hero without it being because of how he looks?

A little bit ago, the Sharks acquired a new defenseman, Brian Campbell at the trade deadline. His skating is unbelievable and definitely a new and much needed dimension to the team. My new addition to my hero line. I had heard only a little from blogs and news about the value he would be to my beloved team but when I saw him that first week he was in San Jose I was floored. To be honest...I do have a little crush on him. I think its not just the talent he possess but it's evident the passion he has for the game (and in this case his career). He also fits right in to the team so I hope he'll sign a contract come July.

So back to Jesus in this line of three. He is someone that is definitely part of my life. Yet I probably talk about him less outside of church or my closest friends. At the very least I probably don't discuss him like I would Thornton or Campbell. Maybe that's good in a way.He is certainly bigger than a couple of hockey players. But in other ways I am wishing that my faith in God resembled my obsession with hockey a little more. I'm am constantly searching for news and articles/blogs on my team, other teams, players games, and video. I soak in all the information, commentary and other's opinions (particularly my brothers) like I can't get enough. I'm even starting training at the gym to work on skills I can use when I start to take hockey lessons next year. I can admit that there is a lot I don't know, and it pushes me to learn more. So maybe there is a part of me who realizes that I should spend part of my time reading more in the Bible or soaking up more information in my faith. I won't be completely down on myself. It's not like I don't think about God, my faith, how it impacts my world. It's so ingrained in me that I can't get away from thinking about it even when I try. I think the passion isn't there sometimes. The cynical thinking gets in the way of my desire some days. I can only continue to be aware of this difference between these two loves in my life, remember my priorities, be humble in what i don't know, and seek to grow in my knowledge and experience of both. Hopefully at some point, I can learn again to talk about my faith and live it out as passionately as I do about hockey.

So here's to hopefully will be another two months of Sharks hockey...And to Jesus, Joe, and Brian Campbell...

(and the rest of the guys but it would take too long to name them
all and wouldn't sound fun!)

The Power of Myth

In sixth grade I thought I was doing a great moralistic action by coming home to tell my mother that I would not do a homework assignment from my language arts teacher--because it was about Greek mythology. I thought (at that time) that as a Christian I should not learn about such things. Maybe this is not directly what my leaders and church meant, but this is the message I was taking home. Thankfully my mother didn't let me off the hook on my assignment. I was to do the assignment not only because it was homework but because there was value to learning about the past, about other cultures, and about myths. What a great lesson my mother taught me that day. This is what came to mind in opening up "The Power of Myth" from Joseph Campbell and Bill Moyers.

In the last few years I have heard more and more about the relationship of Christianity to other stories both ancient and modern. In the past I wasn't able to grasp that these comparisons were a healthy thing. I was taught (or at least understood) these stories were a threat--to the church, to God, to my faith. By learning about these stories, I was opening up doors to "fall away from God" or so I thought. There is a wall that the church built to protect it's own story. But the wall often keeps our understanding from the richness of the Christian story. The Christian story is very similar to so many stories, but God is showing us how he is different within his story. It's a message the author and pastor Rob Bell spoke of on his "the gods aren't angry tour". That yes, there are so many similarities between the Christian/Hebrew story and the many cultures around the world. And if we ignore the truth in the stories or the stories themselves we fail to understand the world we live in, our humanity and more about the God who claims to be the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

So today at lunch I started reading "the Power of Myth". Based on a series of interviews with Bill Moyers and Joseph Campbell that aired on PBS in the 1980's, it shares the conversation the two had regarding myths and their impact in our lives. I had first heard of the series on Gilmore Girls when two of the characters were talking about watching it on spring break (the two were having a hard time "living it up" with typical spring break traditions and decided to watch "the power of myth" with pizza in their hotel room instead). I picked up a copy a few months ago during one of my wanderings through Barnes and Noble. And then I picked up the book last night since I was all caught up on watching Battlestar Galactica--in perfect timing. (This series is a great story that touches on this same conversation throughout the episodes.)

**Bill Moyers is great. He can engage in a discussion with people and express his own Christian beliefs without belittling or demeaning his conversation partner. It is just that--a discussion. He seeks to understand the other person and yet relate the topic in to his own understanding. I haven't seen many of his interviews but have always been mesmerized by how he communicates with others in those I have watched. In reading this book (so far), I think he has a gift for bringing out the best in people. Even when he doesn't fully agree.

"One thing that comes out in myths is that at the bottom of the abyss come the voice of salvation. The black moment is the moment when the real message of transformation is going to come. At the darkest moment comes the light."

This is the story that continues to appear throughout history, in myths, the Bible, the Koran, in popular culture, books, movies...And it is the story that holds humanity together. It is why Star Wars is so popular. Why I think Battlestar Galactica is written so well. And why I think as Christians, it is so imperative that we understand the other stories. So that we too can communicate with others. I don't think the knowledge of what the Native American stories, the Greek and Roman gods, the past stories of creation negate the Christian story. I think the differences enhance the power of Jesus, what he taught and who is was/is. In the few chapters I've read, I understand that at least to some degree the Christian story is just another myth to Campbell. But not in the sense that is disregarded as untrue. In more of the sense that all of these stories hold truth for humanity.

There is a danger in being too pluralistic. In saying all the stories lead to the same truth. I think that there are important differences. And these differences are why I hold on to Christianity rather than other religions. But to disregard the all other stories to the other extreme is dangerous as well, quite possibly more dangerous. It's the attitude that breeds hate, wars and exclusivity when Jesus lived and died to teach us love, peace and the idea that his salvation was available to all who will simply believe.