Sunday, January 5, 2014

My football passions seem to conflict with my Office of Deacon

Similarly, deacons must be dignified...1 Timothy 3:8

My football passions make me nuts; especially when someone reminds me that I am a Deacon in His Catholic Church.  And since I have spent lots of time here explaining that "Deacon" is not what I do but is who I am, these reminders sting all the more.  I don't recall when I started taking to Facebook and social media during and after games, but I got to tell you, it's not serving me well lately.  Yet I continue to do it, even when there are numerous times I instantly regret the sage wisdom of self appointed Mr. Football; AKA me.

Just this year alone, I have called the head football coach of my beloved LSU Tigers Least Miles for Les Miles, blamed every coach at LSU as being incompetent, trashed Drew Brees for every bad pass or sack, and showed profound joy at the demise of others like Alabama and the Dallas Cowboys, not to mention the Atlanta Falcons.  I like to think that I can simply dismiss this as you are only human.  Yet I realize that while others read my fanatical football words, they come attached to a guy with the Facebook name of Deacon Mike Talbot.

A good friend of mine on social media, and a lovely Catholic wife and mom to boot expressed to me that she expects words from religious folk to be soft and kind and over brimming with forgiveness and not full of spite, venom and malice.  Ouch.  What a gut check.  You see, up to now, I don't think I gave any thought to the hurt that is possible from these words.  Football is a passion for me, still, at the end of the day it is a game and nothing about football, in and of itself, has anything to do about eternal happiness.  Still there are lessons to be learned about being dignified, as St. Paul reminds us and in striving for holiness all the time.  And, as I've said before, if it's all about who I am and not what I do, can I suspend reality for a football game or a moment of caustic social media fame?  I think not.

Therefore, I resolve to work on this.  No more name calling, no more spite, venom and malice, and no more broad strokes about football players, coached and fans.  Lord almighty this will be difficult.  Pray for me that I can overcome my football passions with true fidelity to my Office, to my "being". 

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