You may now be at a loss for words, but I am sure you have a plethora of goose bumps to compensate. The chills running down your neck might leave you as speechless as the announcer who repeated “wow” and “what a moment!” That sense – of something that starts in your gut and moves to your heart – makes you want to want to join in the roar of the crowd or jump into the touchdown celebration. That sense – of something more, of mystery and of power – has provided us with the gift of this transformational moment.
I believe sport is full of moments that can open our eyes to that ‘something,’ if we allow ourselves to be lifted up in the present – much like young Jack was hoisted into the air.
As the new Coordinator of Campus Programming for Neumann University’s Institute for Sport, Spirituality and Character Development, I am humbled by the opportunity to strive to replicate the similar support of Jack’s blockers and hoisters for our student-athletes, coaches, and chaplains.
That something more, mysterious and powerful, is talked about here – that something is God, and whether those Nebraska student-athletes, coaches or fans knew it, He was present and acting in every movement, cheer and goose bump. God works through each and every one of us and I love how He works through sport. I am excited to engage in the sharing of our moments which help to bring us together and provide perspective on what sport and life are all about. With an awareness of our present, who knows how we can help hoist others or be lifted ourselves.
There is something special going on here at NU and I’m all in – are you?
