The GLORY of Another Day

My mind sat in a morning fog the Monday after a party with fellow Pittsburgh Steelers fans from church. We semi-circled around our flat screen for the BIG Bowl game. Buddy wore his pristine white, Big Ben Number 7 Jersey. With a soft football bouncing in his hands, he’d constantly ask, “What do I do now? What do I do now?” We’d take turns sending our special armchair QB the next play. When the passes got wild, we suggested he settle down.

Born near the ‘burgh, Buddy so wanted his team to win that night. For weeks he'd insist they would win, despite joshing from Green Bay backers. When he gets worked up, my 22 year-old going on 2nd grade will speak his mind . . . a lot. A few times Mom had to change the subject.

Of course, Mom urged him to wear his Steelers jacket the week before the game, as she wore her Steelers pin proudly on her lapel. And we both had to buy yet another Steelers balloon for the party.

Visualize, taste our party spread --Georgia Bob barbecue beef brisket and pulled pork chomps, fresh whole wheat buns, squash/celery sticks for humus dips, salsa shrimp on Tostitos scoop crunches, cheese slabs on crackers slaps, brownies, and homemade candy nibbles. Surely it was as taste bud tickling as heaven’s final banquet. And we were a chatty "tailgate" bunch as we munched and laughed, yelled at the TV,  while gently coaching our special Quarterback.

The next day I felt upbeat, as did Buddy, as did our fellow party fans. After all, didn’t Roethlisberger thread a winning immaculate pass through three defenders to tiptoe Santonio Holmes in the end zone?
Wait. Pause. Burn the fog. Rewind. That football pass was against the Arizona Cardinals in XLIII. Hello! Since the Steelers have been to the Super Duper Bowl eight times for six victories, these big events blur gold and black.

The Steelers' Nation is a Roman Empire, a vast populace of fans crossing national boundaries. Many grayer haired fans wax nostalgic over the 1970’s Steel Curtain team, led by Terry Bradshaw. They were men, unafraid to break their teeth as they hit ‘em hard like the gladiators of old. This February as the song goes, "the glory that was Rome/ is of another day."

Eat n' Park Steeler Cookie

Meanwhile, deep freeze Wisconsinites had good reason to melt their cheese in celebration. Quarterback and former Cal alumni Aaron Rogers along with his fellow Green Bay Packers played an exceptional game in Dallas. They earned their third ring and trophy.

Though I threw down the towel disgusted at times, I was surprised at how well Buddy and all of us handled watching our team lose. We were one big smile. In the relational glue of Jesus faith, we bonded well, pals walking in the light of glory, that glory of another, better day-- that eternal weight of God's glory that outshines Rome and any temporal trophies.