Chateau Lloyd

As part of a wide-ranging discussion of prayer, the other day I saw someone express an opinion that praying over sports, especially its outcomes, was a waste of time.  Sports were not something worth prayers.

My answer at the time was that anything that draws people into prayer is a good thing, because it brings them closer to God.  Maybe the outcome of a sportsball game will open their heart even more, and prayer will become a daily thing.

Upon further contemplation, I feel even more strongly that prayer in sports is a good thing because sports themselves are good, and necessary.

As much as one can condemn the wealth and vulgarity of professional sports, the fact is that lower-tier sports are essential to a functional society.  Indeed, one of the hallmarks of our civilizational decay are declining male participation and men pushing themselves onto women's teams under the guise of being transgender.

Only in a decadent, flabby and (non-coincidentally) secular society can such nonsense be even discussed, let alone put into practice.  Young men in particular need an outlet for their competitive energy, a way to express physical prowess in a controlled and reasonably safe manner.  At all levels sports require rules, a sense of fair play and the acceptance of the outcome.

The comparatively recent advent of school schooters has now escalated to the point where social media sites like Blue Sky are filled with death threats and assassination fantasies from people who have never learned how to take a loss.

Sports bring people together and in general, everyone benefits.  The participants gain the benefit of exercise and development, tenacity and discipline.  They will forge relationships that can last a lifetime.  The spectators also gain more than just mere entertainment.  They become part of a larger community, and of course the venue itself becomes for a time a temporary community.

Until recently, prayers were recited before these events, and unofficially still are.  The Covid lockdown showed how vital these gatherings are to maintaining a healthy mental state.

Many teams still have chaplains, and the are countless athletes who credit their success to God.  Indeed, the knowledge that even the greatest must find comfort and recourse to prayer is humbling.

Team prayers do still exist, and so that also brings people closer to God.  Seeing a team at prayer can also inspire others to embrace it.

Like all human institutions, sports can be turned to evil, but I think it offers great opportunities for spiritual growth.  If praying for victory is what inspires someone to speak to God, who am I to object?