More Than A Game

I just talked to a soccer coach who coaches at a Christian school. The program is an excellent one and they are a pretty accomplished bunch. Anyway, we were talking about a great win they recently had against a rival school. He told me that the team decided instead of gathering after a game and forming a circle and praying together they would do something different. The players decided after shaking hands with their opponents they would circle back and pick out one opposing player to pray with. They go up to the player and say,"Hey, really good game. I know this will sound kind of strange but would it be ok if I just prayed with you?" I don't know what your high school athletic experience was like but this is stunning to me. The coach told me the response has been unbelievable. Every game brings him to tears and I can see why. It impacts how his team plays since they know at the end of the game they will be targeting someone to pray with. One player said the kid he asked said,"Do you mean like the Lord's Prayer or something?" And the student said,"No, not really. I just want to pray for you that God would be real in your life." And so he did. And I think God could hardly be happier. These are kids who play the game hard and well but in the end they know that it is more than just a game. There is something bigger going on. I was thinking how that would change the way we live. Would it change the way you drive if you knew you would be putting your arm around someone and asking if you could pray for them at the next rest stop. Would it change the way you do business or deal with a fellow employee? Anyway, the whole conversation inspired me. I am glad there are kids like that in the world. I am glad to know the story. This is the first time in a long time I have wanted to be more like a 17 year old than someone my age.