Good morning.
Being a fan of pro-football, I was tuned in last evening to watch what was supposed to be a good game between two excellent teams. Buffalo and Cincinnati were playing, and most of the first quarter was being played in a way that met expectations. Good teams, good game, close score.
Then, in a moment, everything changed. Damar Hamlin, a 24 year old player for Buffalo suddenly collapsed. He had just made a tackle, but there was nothing noteworthy about it. But when the young man got to his feet, he staggered, and then fell back to the ground where he lay motionless. Medical help was close by and began CPR efforts. This lasted for several minutes until finally the health care workers were able to restore a pulse. He was immediately taken by ambulance to a nearby hospital, where this morning he was said to be under sedation and in critical condition.
While this was happening on the field I lifted up my prayers for the young man and for his family. Nothing unusual about that, a preacher engaging in prayer. But what was extraordinary was the reaction from his teammates, coaches, and the roughly 70,000 people in the stands. The default reaction for most of them was to go to their knees and pray. I am not saying that every person in the stands prayed, but all of his teammates and coaches were kneeling in the center of the field for prolonged prayer. The other team, those players who minutes before were the sworn enemies of the Buffalo team and were using terms like “going to war” against their adversary, were also in tears and hugged the opposing players while joining them in prayer. One of the announcers, Dan Orlovsky, while live on TV offered up an excellent prayer.
As for the football game, it was shutdown. No one suggested that it should continue.The reason I am sharing about this event is that I was impressed by the reaction of so many to pray. There seems to be a natural understanding that when you care deeply, and there is nothing else you can do to effect the outcome, you turn to the Almighty and pray.
I am quite sure that for many of those who found themselves on their knees last evening, prayer is not a typical activity. The athletes have prepared their entire lives to have the physical ability and the practiced skills to play their game. When it comes to football, they are pros. When it comes to prayer, I imagine that for some prayer isn’t unusual, but for others this may have been the first heart-felt prayer of their lives. Did such shortcomings obstruct their efforts? No. Did such shortcomings limit the likelyhood of success in their prayer? No. That isn’t how prayer works. With prayer, it isn’t about the skill of the one praying, it is about the compassion and the power of the One to whom we pray. God loves us beyond our shortcomings and God promises to help us when we come to Him in honest prayer.
“In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God’s will.” Romans 8:26-27
This morning there continues to be many prayers lifted up to God on behalf of Damar Hamlin. Isn’t it wonderful to know that God’s reaction isn’t contingent upon our abilities, only upon His love and His power. Rejoice always, pray continually,give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
Vern