Good morning, I'm
the Rev Steve Page from St Patrick's Anglican Church, and you're
listening to the Daily Devotional moment, sponsored by the Hudson Bay
Ministerial.
This month, I'm
drawing our images of Christian faith and spirituality from the
wonderful and sometimes weird world of Sports. Let's talk some more
hockey today.
I know, we're a
little early for the NHL playoffs yet, but let me take you back to
the Stanley Cup finals of 1996. Can you remember who played for the
Cup that year?
The Colorado
Avalanche were at the height of their dominant years, and in the
finals they met the Florida Panthers and their hordes of rat-throwing
fans. The Avalanche took the first 3 games, and were looking for the
sweep in game 4 in Florida.
The first period
was a close-fought, defensive battle. Patrick Roy stopped all 10
shots for Colorado, while Florida's goalie, John Vanbiesbrouck stoned
the Avs at the other end. Nothing-nothing.
Florida poured it
on in the 2nd period, controlling the game more often than
not, but could not put the puck past Roy. After two, it was still
tied at zero.
As the 3rd
period wore on, the tension built. The way these defences were
playing, a single goal could do it. A bad bounce, a deflection,
anything could hand the Cup to the Avalanche, or send the series back
to Colorado for game 5. But when the buzzer sounded, neither team had
scored. Both goalies had shut out their opponents for 60 minutes.
Well, hockey
playoff ties lead to sudden-death overtime, one of the most exciting
situations in any sport. After a break, both teams skated out for a
nail-biting overtime period. But after another 20 minutes of hockey
the score was still 0-0.
A second overtime
started. Maybe Colorado was wearing down, because Florida peppered
Patrick Roy with 18 shots in overtime #2. But again, neither team
could score. Nothing-nothing after 100 minutes of hockey.
Finally, 4 1/2
minutes into the third overtime, Colorado's Uwe Krupp netted the
Stanley Cup winning goal. The clincher finished 1-0 for the
Avalanche. And while both goalies played an amazing game, Patrick Roy
stood out. He shut out the Panthers through the entire 5+ periods of
play, and blocked all 63 shots they took. What an incredible defender
of the net he was!
The Bible often
portrays God as a defender in our lives. I think of Psalm 18, where
the poet writes “The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer,
in whom I take refuge; my shield, the horn of my salvation, my
stronghold.” That's just one verse, but it is saturated with images
of God as one who defends the weak, the helpless, the faithful. And
there are many others in the Bible that also talk about God as a
defender.
Imagine God as a
fortress, a stronghold or a shield. These are pictures of God as a
reliable and safe place to hide in or behind, when life is throwing
us curveballs or trying to swamp us or toss us about. As when Jesus
spoke and stilled the storm in Luke 8, so God is there for us when
things go wrong. When we get bad health news about us or a loved one.
When we're thrown out of work. When a friend betrays a trust. When
the rumour mill gets the story all wrong and makes us look bad. In
the midst of it all, God is there, ready to defend us if we're
willing to enter God's fortress.
Some of the
imagery in that verse is also offensive. God is my deliverer, the
horn of my salvation. Those are pictures of God being more than a
refuge and defender, but playing an active role in bringing about
justice for the poor, the oppressed, the needy. God is both our great
defender, even better at defending than Patrick Roy, and on our side
to deliver and save. Thank God today for his presence in your life,
and turn to him when life threatens to bowl you over.
For St Patrick's
Church, I'm Steve Page.
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