Monday, April 7, 2008

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!)

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