The One Thing
CBN.com - In the 1991 movie "City Slickers," an urban business executive played by Billy Crystal is struggling to find true meaning in his life. Sensing his muddled sense of self, two friends decide to take him on a western cowboy adventure to find his purpose in life. While on the trip, Crystals encounter with a pregnant bovine helps him discover "the one thing" that gives his life meaning.
For most sports fans there is always one defining moment that stands out as being "the one thing" that shaped their collective sports memories for that year. Some might remember 1967 for the Boston Red Sox "Impossible Dream" team. In 1972, many Pittsburgh Steeler fans conjure up vivid recollections of Franco Harris "Immaculate Reception." Millons recall 1995 as the year Cal Ripken surpassed Yankee legend Lou Gehrigs consecutive games played streak to become baseballs new ironman. You get the idea.
For many, 2001 will be remembered as the year when sports stood still. Traditionally, any day of the calendar year is a whirl of sports activity. But due to the tragic events of September 11th, nearly every game at all levels of sport was either postponed or canceled out of respect for our true fallen heroes. The result a weeks worth of NFL football, 58 bigtime college football games, and all PGA and NASCAR events scheduled for that week were lost out of respect for mankind. When play resumed, stadiums were awash with patriotic fervor.
For others, "the one thing" that defined the year in sports came in the form of an enigmatic baseball slugger playing in the shadow of the Golden Gate Bridge. San Francisco Giants outfielder Barry Bonds erased a once insurmountable record by swatting a major league record 73 home runs. Along the road to long ball supremacy, he passed Mark McGwire (70) who had held the record since 1998.
Sadly, "the one thing" that NASCAR fans will remember from the year 2001 was the tragic death of racing legend Dale Earnhardt. At the Daytona 500 in February, the Terminator was navigating the races final lap when his vehicle careened headfirst into a wall between the third and fourth turns. With his seatbelt snapping from the impact, he died instantly from massive head trauma. In the weeks that followed, an effusive outpouring of emotionally galvanized fans lifted the sport to new heights.
"The one thing" for basketball fans in 2001 was the much-ballyhooed return of Michael Jordan. Not the same player he was when he left the game following the 1998 season, His Airness returned a level of excitement to a game that had become stagnant since, well, you know who retired three years ago. Even more refreshing was the fact, Jordan donated his $1 million dollar salary to the families of the victims of September 11th.
For Christians, "the one thing" that defined the year 2001 was the sweeping urgency for revival in our great nation and across the world. In the wake of September 11th, more than three million people requested a booklet written by Pat Robertson called "Steps to Revival." This is clear evidence that non-believers are softening their opposition to Christianity.
In the year ahead, we as Christians must seek Gods wisdom for the church body to be united with the common vision of winning souls for Christ.
In the book of Second Chronicles, God spoke to Solomon, who was then the King of Israel, about revival. He said, "And if My people, who are called by My name, will humble themselves and pray, and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land." (
)"The one thing" we need to focus on in 2002 is the restoration of ardent faith in our own lives as well as others. And above all else, we need to pray.
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