“Go my favorite sports team go! Score a goal. Unit. Basket. Go squadron! Defeat the opponents soundly in this…skirmish.” (Brian Regan)
It’s football season. Fantasy football, pro football (in my corner of the world, the Chiefs), college games and my personal favorite, high school football. I went to a lot of high school football games when I was a teenager, and even more when I was raising teenagers. Mostly I showed up to watch my kids in the marching band, but I always loved high school football. Now, don’t scrutinize my thoughts about this too much. I’m mostly ignorant about sports But I know what I like.
The most exciting moment for me in any football game is a successful pass. The quarterback (rightfully so) gets most of the attention. But what the receiver has to do to catch the ball, with all the obstacles and variables, is incredible to me. It could be due to my distinct lack of athletic ability, but if I chose any player to be, it would be the receiver.
This is what I found on the web about what a receiver has to do to catch a pass: “A football receiver aligns with the passer by adjusting their body orientation with weight forward for explosion, keeping eyes on the QB/ball, and subtly shifting alignment to anticipate defenders, all while aiming to keep their shoulders square to the passer during the catch for control.”
Receiving is a whole body experience: all eyes, all hands, feet, body focused on the quarterback and the ball.
I was surprised to be particularly inspired by this metaphor, so I thought I should record it for posterity: Receiving the Lord’s gifts requires the same readiness as a receiver.
Think of all the things it says in the scriptures for receiving the Savior’s gifts: Aligned with Him, eyes on Him, an open heart, feet planted, hands open, shoulders squared and our whole soul poised to take off when the invitation comes. We hold the gift close to our heart as we run with whatever the Lord sends our way.
Receiving is holy, receiving brings joy. Receiving brings transformation.
Christ is the greatest Gift ever given, and the Gift of His Atonement is flawless. The Lord’s power to strengthen, transform and heal us is perfect, flawless. But how much we are empowered, changed and redeemed is measured by us, the receivers.
The Atonement is God’s giving, but discipleship is us receiving all of that. How we receive is critical to what we experience.
Football season fades away and becomes the “Holidays”, a time for thanks and gifts, both giving and receiving. I am going to be a receiver, after all.