God is not a big football fan

After this season's NFC Championship game, Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers had this to say after the game:  

"I don't think God cares a whole lot about the outcome. He cares about the people involved, but I don't think he's a big football fan."

I wasn't a big professional football fan either (although I have been long known to be glued to the TV during college football games which involve select, beloved teams), until I turned around and saw my home team, the Seattle Seahawks, doing far more than just playing football and making umpteen million dollars a year doing so.  Instead, I saw a group of people who were playing football on a heady and inspiring combination of faith (in God), positive energy, mutual affirmation, AND determination to play as a true team.  The Hawks' team mentality goes well beyond a series of loose connections among elite athletes who just happen to be wearing the same color uniform when Sunday afternoon rolls around.  

Aaron Rodgers is right.  God cares about the people involved.   And because He is God and He cares, of course He cares about the outcome.   But, I believe that Aaron Rodgers is also right in saying that God is not a big football fan.  Of course not.  Football fans can't control the outcome of a game.   Cochess can.  Especially all powerful, all loving, all knowing ones.

Move over Pete Carroll.  You have company.   

So, where exactly was God during the Superbowl?   How could a team that He seems to have propelled through the last three minutes (plus overtime) to victory during the NFC championship game then lose via a history-making, heartbreaking last play during Superbowl 49? Did He just turn His back on the Seahawks and decide to focus solely on managing the New England Patriots instead, thereby cleverly diverting all the press from Deflategate?    

While the latter part may be true, the possibility that God decided to go to the NFC championship and then skip the Superbowl is untenable.  No, He was not too busy to attend.  

Instead, many who have walked in faith with God at some point in their lives have lived the answer to the question of "Where was He, when...?  When individual hopes, prayers, longings, and hungers are cast aside... neglected, ignored, shattered... there is usually only one reason.  

A greater purpose.  A longer story.   Another ending. 

the grand coach, having read well beyond management 101, orchestrates a larger vision that anyone ... even the 12th man... could possibly imagine.   

and, that is exactly the kind of God I want on my team.