Saints of the Month: Doug Pederson and the Philadelphia Eagles

“…but those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like E-A-G-L-E-S..! (Isaiah 40:31)

Holy cow! It looks like our beloved Philadelphia Eagles are going to the Super Bowl! Indeed, this has been an astounding season, and I’ve been caught up in the euphoria of it just like everyone else here in Philly. The NFC Championship game played last Sunday against Minnesota started off as a tense battle and ended as a massacre. I’ll bet there are a lot of unhappy Lutherans up there in the Twin Cities, but here in Philly there are, I think, lots of reasons to rejoice.

First, the excitement and enthusiasm of a hometown win knocked the embarrassment of the (mercifully temporary) government shut-down off the front page. Democrat or Republican, black or white, rich or poor, all of Philly was high-fiving and fist-bumping together as our Birds soared to victory. The innocence of the game reminded us (I hope) that, whatever our differences might be, there still are things which can unite us. If the two Koreas can march together in the Winter Olympics, there just might be hope for the human race after all. Truly, we have more in common than we have differences.

Secondly, I am struck by the sense of affectionate comradery expressed by the Philadelphia players in their post-victory interviews. I get the feeling that these guys genuinely like—maybe even love—each other. There is a spirit of humble unity and a lack of unsportsmanlike ego that seems to come from this team. For this, I can only give credit to Coach Doug Pederson. It is a testament to this man’s leadership that he was able to imbue this group of athletes with a sense of respect and common purpose. It was inspiring to see the injured Carson Wentz—a hero deprived of the glory of a championship game—on the sidelines giving selfless support to Nick Foles. It’s amazing what can happen when egos are put aside and replaced with a dedication to common purpose.

I was also impressed with the way our Eagles performed under pressure. When Viking quarterback Case Keenum was threatened by a rushing Eagles defense, he frequently threw incomplete. Nick Foles, regardless of the onslaught from the Viking line, hit his receiver, demonstrating great grace under pressure. Maybe he remembered that this was only a game and not a cause for panic. Foles’ performance in that game reminded me of a quote from John 12:25:

“Those who love their life lose, and those who hate their life in this world will keep it for eternal life.”

Now, I feel quite certain that, at this moment, if there’s anyone who’s loving his life, it’s Nick Foles. But to understand this passage, you need to know that in ancient Greek, the word which is translated as “hate” doesn’t necessarily mean “despise intensely.” Rather, I think it’s used in this sense as the antonym of “love.” That is, if to love is to feel great passionate affection for something or someone, then its opposite is simply not to feel great passionate affection. Perhaps the verse would be better translated, “Those who are indifferent to the things of this world will give their hearts to eternal things.” In other words: don’t sweat the small stuff. Save your love for the God-pleasing nature of your daily work, your family, and your compassion for all of God’s children and God’s creation.

It’s so easy to lose ourselves when we are under pressure, and to turn an inconvenience into a catastrophe. As individuals, as Christians, as church members, and as Americans we all should be taking a page out of Nick’s book and keeping perspective. Events may be rushing at us, but there are always larger things to consider. As the holy season of Lent approaches, we will again be reminded that we are only dust, and to dust we will return. For my part, I would rather leave behind a legacy of compassion rather than indignation. I want to keep focused on things that really matter.

I compose this article weeks before Super Bowl LII is to be played. I certainly hope our Eagles are victorious, but—sorry, Coach Lombardi—I can’t believe that wining is the only thing. Win or lose on February 4^th, our team gave us an exciting year, and I’m grateful enough for that. Besides, the excitement of the season aside, I’m beginning to think that victory is overrated.

When we look down the aisle of our churches, above the altars, and into the apse, we don’t see the image of a victorious general or a great potentate. We see the image of a man facing humiliating defeat—a crucified criminal who has lost his freedom, his dignity, and his life out of love and compassion for the human race. In John’s gospel Jesus tells us, “No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends” (John 15:13). No matter what the world throws at us, Jesus loves us enough to enter into our anguish and humiliation. With such grace and love given to us, can we be anything but winners?