Yesterday was Super Bowl Sunday; a day when even the most faithful church attendee will sit one out and the most faithful football fan will have a new spiritual high. Saints vs Colts. Brees vs Manning. Former Super Bowl champs vs first time Super Bowl competitors. There was no doubt it was going to be a great game.

Late in the game, the Colts veteran field goal kicker, Matt Stover, missed a crucial field goal from 51 yards out. With his missed field goal, the Colts missed a golden opportunity to slow down the momentum of an up-and-coming New Orleans team.  It was a huge turning point in the game. As the ball sailed wide of the goal posts, the camera cut back to Matt Stover. And instead of hanging his head after missing a huge field goal in the biggest game of his career, he raised his head and put both hands in the air, index fingers pointed to the sky.

We see this gesture a lot in sports. Sometimes after touch downs. Sometimes as a homerun hitter crosses the plate. Sometimes at the end of a race at the Olympics. And typically, this gesture is reserved for celebration – after a score, after a victory, after winning a championship.

But Stover pointed to the sky after missing. The thought crossed my mind; Did he think he made the field goal? Could he not see that the kick was not even close?  Was he so confident that he made it that he prematurely pointed to God in thanksgiving and celebration??

 Quite the contrary…

 As the replay caught Stover running off the field after his missed field goal, fingers pointed to the sky, the CBS commentator noticed and said, “Stover, a man of deep faith, points to the sky every time he kicks; whether he makes it or not.”

 Job 1:21 

www.mattstoverfoundation.org/matt.html

~ by chris on February 8, 2010.