WF Pride
Focus on Unity and Humility
Chad Cottingham
Wow! What an absolutely incredible finish to a football game. It all came down to the last play from scrimmage. The 115,000 fans at Michigan stadium, and the millions of others around the state and country, watching one of the best rivalries in college football. The Michigan State Spartans score a touchdown to beat their arch-rival, the Michigan Wolverines, on a botched punt as time expires, snatching victory out of thin air. You couldn’t have predicted a finish like this in a 1000 tries. This game and this play will be shown for years and even decades after it happened – it was that strange and that weird of a finish. We may never see an ending like that to football game again.
Football is a lot of fun to watch and talk about with friends and colleagues. However, it gets extra heated when it comes to Michigan vs. Michigan State. The week leading up to the big game can lead to some interesting conversations and discussions. Office emails are full of trash talking and friendly bantering. In some cases, family loyalties are split causing a rift on game day – this is my house. Some fans take it so serious that they get mad and emotional, or even take it personally. Our core value of ‘focus on unity and humility’ is far removed during this week, and the few days following the game as the winner gloats with pride. It’s humbling for all of us to come back to reality and see how foolish we’ve been.
As fun as the game is, it should make us stop and think of where our focus is in life. Stop and think about that. Are you primarily focused on yourself? Including your needs, your wants, your desires, and even your team? Or do you focus on helping and loving others? Do you look to help unify your work environment, your home, your church, your community? If not, maybe it’s time to refocus. Here’s a little food for thought: What you’re focused on reflects what’s in your heart and God sees your heart. Are you happy with what He sees?
Mathew 9:4 Jesus knew what they were thinking, so he asked them, “Why do you have such evil thoughts in your hearts?
Luke 16:15 Then he said to them, “You like to appear righteous in public, but God knows your hearts. What this world honors is detestable in the sight of God.”
Acts 15:8a God knows people’s hearts.
“Dear Lord and Heavenly Father, help us to have a heart like you. A heart that loves unconditionally and sacrificially. Help us to be unified in love and humble in spirit. It’s in Jesus name I pray, Amen. And PS, can you please help Michigan win next year.”