On December 11, Frank Bruni of the New York Times was, almost begrudgingly, trying to put a positive, secular spin on Tim Tebow. Unnerved by what Bruni referred to as Tebow's "oppressive piety," the columnist conceded that, despite Tebow's overbearing faith, we should not overlook the power of Tebow's "gospel of optimism."
What does this have to do with LRCA and why we do what we do?
A few seasons ago, our associate director of athletics, Darrell Smith, coined the Warrior four C's - the backbone of the philosophy of our Warrior athletic program. Warrior athletics are:
- Christ-centered
- Competitive
- Character-based
- Committed
Now, think of Tim Tebow.
Go back to the 4 C's.
Back to Tebow.
Back to the Warrior 4 C's.
See the connection?
So, when Frank Bruni and the NYT sneer at the Christ-centered, competitive, character-based, contagious spirit of Tim Tebow, they are sneering at the very heart of Warrior athletics. If this were just the NYT, we could let it go as biased pulp. But, Bruni and the NYT are not voices in the wilderness. They are not the angry left; they are the pragmatic left; they speak for millions. Bruni is more than one column in an aging newspaper. He represents the escalating voice of a growing multitude who vocally oppose a biblical worldview. Worse, they sneer at it, mock it and call it "oppressive piety."
Truth be told, darkness does not like the light. Light hurts the eyes and goodness convicts the soul. Truth, to some, is "oppressive." Solution? Turn out the light and push goodness away. When a society feels oppressed, there's always push-back. If Tebow and LRCA are regarded as oppressive, do not be surprised, then, when push back comes our way. Instead, let's learn from Tebow's "gospel of optimism."
We can win; we will win.
When push back comes, what does Tebow do? Push forward.
When push back comes upon Warriors, what do we do? Push forward.
Even Bruni respects "the gift of hope, confidence and a special composure, all of which keep a person in the game long enough, with enough energy and stability, so that a fickle entity known as luck might break his or her way. For Tebow that state of mind of mind comes from his particular relationship with his chosen God and is a matter of religion. For someone else, it may be understood and experienced as the power of positive thinking and is a matter of psychology. Either way it boils down to stubborn optimism and bequeaths a spark. A swagger. An edge."
Rather than be offended by Bruni's predictable disdain for faith and piety, let's accept his advice to live out Tebow's gospel of optimism. Let's practice stubborn optimism. Let's light that spark. Let's gain that edge.
It dawned on me at a recent candlelight Christmas service, singing "O Holy Night," what drives the "stubborn optimism" of Tim Tebow.
"Long lay the world in sin and error pining, till he appeared and the soul felt its worth. A thrill of hope, the weary soul rejoices, For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn."
Rejoice, weary soul. Yonder breaks a new and glorious morn. May no one rob us of the thrill of hope in Christ.
Gary B Arnold
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