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From the Rev: World Cup

There is perhaps no larger stage for a single sport sporting event than the World Cup – the National Football League’s Super Bowl ranks high on the list with a large American viewer base and the Olympic Games also have a broad global appeal, but in terms of reach – there is no comparing to an event like the World Cup where, literally, the world is watching (some recent statistics have the US vs. Germany game with a higher viewership than the most recent NFL Super Bowl). The question, though, is what do they see?

The SuperBowl and events like often mean an increase in local sex trafficking, something that many groups are trying to fight and raise awareness about.

Is the world seeing the poverty and social justice issues that are seemingly “behind the scenes” in Brazil? Brazilian street artist Paulo Ito and others have been creating a series of art pieces to draw out some of the issues surrounding the largest event in the world. Poverty, corporate greed, working conditions, political pandering are just some of the issues that come to the surface around events like the World Cup or Olympics. Other, more “hidden” issues include things like sex trafficking and child prostitution.

These “darker” issues usually see huge increases around large sporting events that attract large numbers of male participants and there is no event that isn’t susceptible to traffickers trying to make money through sex (including the American Super Bowl). But is the world seeing those things? And if they are, are they simply just ignoring them?

While some groups are trying to draw attention to the larger issues of human exploitation it can often seem that these voices are lost in the deafening roar of the fans of the “beautiful game.” References to “Jesus” saving at the World Cup are little more than sacrilegious puns to describe the sporting feats of a particular goalkeeper or are reserved for more iconic images such as the Redeemer Christ that overlooks Rio de Janeiro.

As a chaplain working in professional sport for nearly 15 years, now, I am becoming more and more impressed with the need for athletes and those involved in the professional game to use the platform and the viewership of the world – not necessarily to promote themselves or some vein of religiosity, but to draw attention to the issues that God himself is concerned with. James 1:26-27 (The Message) reads,

Anyone who sets himself up as “religious” by talking a good game is self-deceived. This kind of religion is hot air and only hot air. Real religion, the kind that passes muster before God the Father, is this: Reach out to the homeless and loveless in their plight, and guard against corruption from the godless world.

The imperative for us who follow Christ is to reach out and love as Christ would love, and while expressions of one’s faith and life might well include printed expressions such as Kaka’s (Real Madrid) or Wells Thompson’s (pictured while playing for the Colorado Rapids), our faith needs to go beyond mere words. The faith of one who follows Jesus Christ is an active one – where the actions and beliefs are lived out in very tangible ways. Thankfully, both Kaka and Thompson are men who live out an active faith – giving of their time, talents, and resources to love others as Jesus would. Their lives serve as an example for those of us who love and follow the beautiful game – realizing that it is a game, and that there are larger, more important issues at stake. In the least, it should make each of us consider, what is the world seeing when they are watching – whether it is a large event like the World Cup or the way that we live out our faith at home, at work, or at play. We are called to pay attention – not to the star-studded, dramatic happenings on the pitch, but the darker, more desperate issues behind it.

Blessings,

Rev. Brad Kenney

From the Rev: The Red Line

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The Rapids currently sit above the red line – but it’s early in the season, too.

The red line – it is every coach’s nemesis in Major League Soccer. It’s simple: teams above the red line when the season ends gain entry into the playoffs for the MLS Cup. Teams below the red line go home early.

Every coach handles the red line differently – some watch it closely from the beginning of the year to the end. Others pay it no attention (or, so they say) choosing rather to take it “one game at a time.” Some coaches play through a thousand scenarios and calculate how many points are needed to be above the red line when the season ends. But amidst formulaic calculations and all manner of worry and concern, the red line represents a very real threat in this business where performance means everything.

For many clubs and organizations, making the playoffs is the litmus test, the baseline for determining success. The teams that fail to make it – their coaching staff, executive staff, not to mention the players themselves are in danger of losing their jobs, their livelihood. There is often great disappointment for those who try to live above the red line and then fail and fall, especially late in the season.

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The glory of winning the Cup was special, but incomparable with the glory of God.

In reflecting theologically on the red line – there are two thoughts that occur to me. First, that there is a line that we all fall short of regardless of our competence, ability, strength, power, or resources. It is the ideal and standard that God has set before all mankind – Romans 3:23 we see Paul writing, all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God… The glory of God, think about it for a moment. What is the most glorious moment you have ever been a part of? For me, the 2010 MLS Cup win with the Colorado Rapids was a “glorious” moment. I remember the confetti and fireworks, the hoisting of the trophy, the cheers and jubilation of the team at accomplishing the task of winning the Cup. But for all of the glory of that moment – it fell short of God’s glory. In fact, it was incomparable to even a fraction of God’s glory. So in a sense, there is a line (I don’t know if it’s red or blue or black) that we can not measure up to. The standard of God’s glory is always before us as an unattainable measure.

However, we have encouragement from the apostle Paul to, press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus (Philippians 3:14). This mark, this goal, this line that Paul is referring to has to do with the way that we live out life as followers of Jesus. There is a goal of knowing and becoming like Jesus – and this line (not achieved by Paul under his own admission) is something that we ought to strive for. It is not something that we give up on. Paul also writes (I Corinthians 9:24-26),

Don’t you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win! All athletes are disciplined in their training. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize. So I run with purpose in every step…

It may seem an oxymoron – to strive for the unattainable, to reach for the unreachable, to press on toward the mark – but this is the call of Christ on our lives. It is a call to live above the red line – no matter how far it may seem. May you run the race. May you press on toward the mark – for there awaits an eternal prize for you and for me.

Blessings,

Rev. Brad Kenney

From the Rev: Fantasy

The growth of fantasy sports is changing the landscape for the professional sports fan – the game that is much loved (whether soccer, basketball, baseball, or something else) or followed can now have a different level of interaction and control for the fan. Choose players, select which ones play at a certain time, spend a certain allocation of money to develop a team, win prizes, win money – all of these possibilities are creating a new type of fan; a fanatical, fantastical fan.

I observed this recently whilst over at a friends house – he had a game on the TV with two teams that I knew he didn’t follow or have any loyalty with. When I inquired about it he said, “Yes, but so and so is on my fantasy squad.” As the day wore on, multiple devices were tuned to different match ups featuring his “fantasy” team – iPads, iPhones, TV, and laptop computer each showing a different competition. And, of course, the app that tracked all of the fantasy measures was pulled up on each of them to give predictions and show valuable statistics for future decisions that needed to be made. Needless to say, the time spent at my friends house wasn’t quality – I felt like I had been sucked into his fantasy world and it didn’t make for good company.

Now, as you read this, if you are in an age group of Generation X or higher, you might be thinking, “Fantasy sports, that’s ridiculous…” But a recent story highlighted just how much fantasy is changing the landscape, not just of the fan, but of the economy. For example, this USA Today story highlights the hopes and dreams of a growing number of the population to earn a wage at playing fantasy sports. It has long been thought that the money around fantasy sports was in the advertising audience that the games create as this CNN Money article in 2006 discusses, but people earning a wage? It doesn’t seem real.

Fantasy sports is costly, though – not just in the way that it can occupy the mind of a person like my friend I mention above. Through the money exchanged in events like the NCAA March Madness Tournament and in the amount of employer hours lost in countries like America, as this article from The Atlantic mentions, there is question whether people are really fans of anything anymore or whether they are involved in something more subtle and more insidious – gambling. Is fantasy sports a gambling gateway?

I currently play in an MLS Fantasy Soccer league with the other league chaplains.

I currently play in an MLS Fantasy Soccer league with other league chaplains.

I will admit that I have played and still play fantasy sport games (rarely for any money). I feel the tug myself – the temptation to put another game on the TV to “see how my guy is doing,” the temptation to get on one more website and read one more article or bit of advice, the lure of the free app that will let me make substitutions on the go – all of it could consume me and my time. And to combat some of these things I have put some boundaries around these kinds of games: 1. I must be in intentional community (i.e. no random fantasy sports play for the sake of it). 2. Little to no money exchange – maybe a $25 buy-in league would be my max as that is what it might cost to go see a movie with someone. 3. Time boundary – a few minutes to set a roster, switch something around, etc. Not spending hours upon hours researching and studying things. 4. Not letting it interfere with family time, work time, or ministry time. 5. Asking people to reflect back to me on whether it seems to be an interference or is taking a wrong level of priority (i.e. do they see ill effects)?

A biblical guideline for me is Philippians 4:8,

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable–if anything is excellent or praiseworthy–think about such things.

When I sense that the fantasy game is starting to become anything other than these things, it’s time to shut it down, turn it off, cut it out of life. As a Christ-follower it is important to stay grounded in the reality of the world and not be distracted and tempted into creating my own reality which leads me away from what I ought to be focused on.

Blessings,

Rev. Brad Kenney

From the Rev: Life and Death

A friend recently lost his job. Terminated without any warning, he expressed shock and dismay when the company that he had worked for over 8 years told him, “We’re going in a different direction.” Box in hand, he cleared out his desk and made his way home – bewildered and confused while coworkers looked on. Whilst we don’t often consider it in this way – a death had occurred. Relationships, pay, significance, identity, and much more all were “killed” in that particular moment for my friend and he had to cope with a great sense of loss that was compounded by the whole thing being confusing and unforeseen.

Losses like this are commonplace in life and also in professional sport – being traded or cut, a career-ending injury, or a personal trauma all represent a type of “death” that one can experience in the course of one’s professional career. In the midst of the dying process, as human beings, we search for redemptive and hope-filled moments – we await the next offer or opportunity, we hope for change or something different to come along.

When that new thing does come along it is almost like experiencing a “resurrection” of the soul. The sun shines clearer, we can see purpose in our situation, we are filled with a new found sense of hope. This Easter Sunday, as Christians, we reflect on the Ultimate Death and Life in Jesus Christ. The brutality of Friday’s crucifixion and the death – of Christ, and seemingly of so many others things (relationships, hopes and dreams) that occurred was heavy. Perhaps the heaviest time ever in the span of history, but Sunday was coming.

Friday’s death and darkness was blown away by Sunday morning’s victorious discovery: that Jesus was, indeed, alive again. In fact, Jesus revealed that man (who had been dead since the Garden) could now have life again. The weight of the world was lifted in one fell swoop.

No matter where you are right now – whether approaching a seeming death, in the throes of pain and suffering, or just plain “dead” – you can have life again. Cry out to God – he has not abandoned you or I. He has the power to raise dead things to new life again. And he will do it – for you and for me.

Last week, the same friend that lost his job, made a connection with another member at my church. Knowing that they were in similar fields I introduced them through LinkedIn and they met at church. A few interviews later and my friend called me to say he received a job offer that he was intending to accept. It wasn’t three days of waiting (it had been three weeks – though) but he and his family are experiencing life again. To the glory of God.

Blessings,

Rev. Brad Kenney

From the Rev: More than Luck

294722_10150322508761091_11106436090_8600080_144848907_nThe other day at the stadium, one of the Colorado Rapids staff members said, “Thanks for the luck!” The team had just scored a couple of goals against an important rival and looked to win it’s first game of the season. The comment reminded me of the superstition that surrounds much of professional sport – from the player wearing the same socks game after game or makes the sign of the cross before entering the field of play to the coach or executive that hires certain staff or makes certain business decisions in order to keep “luck” on their side.

I got the chance to hold and pose with the MLS Cup Anschutz Trophy.

A few years ago, after the Colorado Rapids had won the Major League Soccer Cup (2010) a member of the coaching staff told me, “We need to have you travel with us from now on!” While the time in Toronto was not the first time that I had been with the team on the road, it was the first time that I had traveled exclusively with the team (and not part of a long road trip with the family).

So what does a chaplain do with the superstition that exists and its many forms?

First, making a distinction between superstition and rhythms can be helpful. There are some things that players, coaches, or teams out of superstition and there are other things that a team does in order to develop a rhythm or pattern. For example, warming up before a game with exercises and drills is more of a pattern than a superstition and a way of preparing the body for the task. In a similar way, an individual player may have their own pattern of preparing for a game – from taking a nap, to reading, to even praying. Sometimes, a rhythmic action can become superstitious (for example, a player who prays before a game having success and then determining that the prayer is what made him successful). This is an area where a chaplain must provide clarity and insight.

Second, accurately teaching on the character and nature of God. This can be an area that seems very gray. “Does God care who wins and loses a game?” is often a question asked by many (theologians and atheists, alike). If the answer is no, then teaching players and coaches and staff to pray “Give us this day our daily bread.” will seem an inconsistent message. As professional athletes and those involved in sport rely upon successes in order to earn a wage and provide for their families, if a chaplain or theologian (or others) dismiss notions of God caring about providing for them it can do serious damage to one’s spirituality and faith. On the flip side, though, there is a need to also help those same people understand the heart of God and the things that God values. For example, when James writes:

Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. (James 1:27)

Here, we can see the value that God places, the priority that is carried within His heart. This is why teaching and reflecting on theological issues is important in sports chaplaincy – so that there can be the maintaining of proper perspective, proper priority.

If you look closely, (left side of picture) you can see my arm (black coat sleeve and white shirt underneath) raised in celebration during the Rapids MLS Cup 2010 celebration. It was a proud moment and difficult not to get too caught up in it all…

Finally, for chaplains themselves, we ought to be careful not to become prideful or boastful about any successes or victories that might be achieved. This is not merely for those involved in sports chaplaincy – any involved in vocational ministry might become enamored with success and might begin believing that they had something to do with it. It is vital to remember that God is sovereign and He wills and moves in ways that are higher than our own devising or understanding. It is God who causes the rain to fall (on the just and unjust) and His purposes are often worked out beyond our immediate comprehension. There may be times when we see the beauty of HIs working things together, but rarely in the moment (especially in moments of suffering).

These are just a few of the ways that a chaplain should engage those being served and help them to see that there is more, really, at hand than “luck.”

Blessings,

Rev. Brad Kenney

From the Rev: Paper Thin

Mary Willingham spoke with ESPN about UNC athletic academic practices which raised an internet maelstrom earlier this week.

This past week, a story broke about an incident a few years ago at the University of North Carolina where a student-athlete was awarded an A- grade for a ten-sentence paper. The story went viral as did the criticism surrounding the “paper classes” that seemed to be part of the college landscape to prop up collegiate athletes and keep them on the field in spite of poor academics. In recent days, further details have come to light on the story. The stories themselves beg a couple of questions, firstly we might ask, “What is truth?” in the same vein that Pilate once asked that famous philosophical question. I have come to learn in my time in the world that the truth (as conveyed by humans) is usually somewhere between two extremes as we turn and twist the truth for our own means and our own gains.

Rebecca Herrera signs a letter of intent with Texas A&M (2008).

But, in spite of the broadcasting faux pas of ESPN, there has always been suspicions around collegiate athletes having different standards or special treatment when it comes to academics and sport. It is no secret that Division-I college athletes usually have access to free tutoring and other resources as a part of scholarship benefits. My own sister-in-law, Rebecca Herrera, on scholarship with Texas A&M (2008/2009) women’s soccer program and experienced some of the offerings that a Division-I college athletics academic support.

Being a student athlete was like having a job – going to classes, practices, travel. The expectations of doing well in classes and doing well in athletics…the amount of effort in doing both of those things well was difficult…

Rebecca Herrera (#9, Texas A&M) defends in a game against the Florida Gators.

The weight of those expectations is not shouldered by athletes alone, there is a lot of support from the schools that provide scholarships to their athletes. Herrera went on to describe some of the other assistance that was afforded to her as an athlete to help ease the burden and manage playing for the girls soccer team,

Student athletes had some privileges including priority for signing up for courses, an academic center where we could access tutors and other people to help manage our academic load, and there were some classes that could be taken that consisted of just an online exam…

Whilst the argument might be made that student athletes are in need of greater support because of the demands, there are those upset by the practices both professional and student, alike. While it is beyond the scope of my writing to enter into that argument, I do want to make a clear appeal – the existence of these courses and the academic system in general is not (in my estimation) helping to prepare the student-athlete for life beyond college and sport in general. There is a severe handicap, in fact, when schools place such a high importance and value on sport over the academic. I acknowledge that some schools are working to change this perception and others are working to change the practice.

But regardless of the athlete and the environment of academics that they come from, one of the roles of the chaplain in professional sport is assisting athletes (really seeing them as people) wherever they are in the process of learning and growing – both personally and professionally. This is sometimes much greater with athletes coming from countries and cultures where schooling and education are lesser in importance compared to playing football professionally (European and South American countries, especially). In these places, young athletes can sometimes bypass educational development and opportunities altogether. America is trending toward more emphasis on sport and less on academics – to the point that many of the athletes that I work with have left school prematurely to play soccer. There is an increasing number who have not gone on past high school education (at least in traditional ways of going to college before beginning a professional career). While there are incentives to complete college, there is little resource or motivation for a player to do it while playing.

When I mentioned some of my role as a chaplain to my sister-in-law, she relished the thought,

I think a team chaplain would have really helpful in college. Just even to work through some of the difficult decisions and to learn how to handle some of the (ethical) issues that we faced as student-athletes.

If helpful at a collegiate level, you can imagine how much more helpful at a professional level. I am coming to realize more and more, that some of my work as a chaplain is to help the young men that I work with to become more solid in life and not just in academics, but in life and faith. Part of my role is helping them in the process of going from boyhood to manhood. Helping them to become real men – men of integrity, men of faith, men of honor, men of valor – men that are not, paper thin.

Blessings,

Rev. Brad Kenney

From the Rev: Retiring Early

Whilst scanning the Twitterverse a few weeks ago, former Colorado Rapids Forward Andre Aukpan (@auakpan), now with New York Red Bulls, highlighted a story on the National Football League’s Rashard Mendenhall retiring at the age of 26. The story (written by Mendenhall) presents a odd perspective that rarely exists in professional sport these days. To understand that the world sees him more as an entertainer, and to make a decision not to continue to punish his body for the sake of entertainment shows a depth of wisdom and insight for someone as young as Mendenhall. While perhaps not a player with the same professional athletic achievements as Mendenhall, Rapids defender Kory Kindle’s retirement earlier this year was along the same vein. What is one to make out of young men seeking to leave professional sports – in spite of potential earnings or achievements that might still be gained? I believe it is a good thing on several accounts…

First, with the popularity of sports in modern-day culture, many young athletes can feel trapped – they have sometimes abandoned education for the sake of entering sports early. Young athletes have many times even missed out on typical social and mental growth and well-being (sports taking primary importance in life). In some cases, they have missed crucial developmental stages or “rites of passage” moments for the sake of the sport. When it comes time for the end of a career – many can feel trapped because the sports world is all that they have known, all that they have invested in.

Second, it is rare to find what I call the “prepared athlete.” There is so much superstition built into sports psychology today that many players believe something along these lines:

If I think about what is next after sports, I will automatically lower my ability to achieve something higher because of my mentality. I can only focus on being an athlete.

Thus, many athletes find themselves in a critical state when the moment to retire or leave the sport comes (whether by their choice or not) because they have not thought much about who they are, the abilities they have, or the passions they have outside of the sports world. This is especially dangerous for professional athletes who make less money (although some might argue that the lower pay scale may actually help keep them in touch with reality) – if they haven’t given consideration to what lies beyond professional sport they often find themselves at a disadvantage when it comes to continuing their education or finding work.

Scottie Pippen lost significant amounts of money with poor financial dealings.

Finally, we have seen many examples of professional athletes that have mismanaged or been poor stewards of the exorbitant amounts of money that they have received – from boxing stars like Mike Tyson, to National Basketball Association players like Scottie Pippen – many athletes make poor financial choices. In fact, some have said that 80% of National Football League players are filing for bankruptcy 2 years after finishing playing the sport.

It is because of these particular reasons, that I find my work as a chaplain (and our intentional focus on holistic care) must necessarily include encouraging wisdom and growth towards the post-career choices that athletes (and coaches) must sometimes make. Whether by utilizing career or personality testing or providing vocational counseling or referring them onto more specific, professional resources I have found it increasingly important to have open dialogue with the players that come and play for the teams that I serve – from high school students to the professional athletes.  When I see a player calling it quits and walking away from the game with preparation and confidence, I breathe a little easier knowing that they will not have to face as much of the pain of retiring early as some of their compatriots.

Blessings,

Rev. Brad Kenney

From the Rev: Deja Vu

CXT Board Chair Cliff Burton shows off his archery skills.

CXT Board Chair Cliff Burton shows off his archery skills.

Three years, nearly to the day, CrossTraining held its annual retreat just before the Colorado Rapids home opening match against the Portland Timbers. CrossTraining team members and board advisors gathered in the mountains to pray and discuss the future of the ministry as the 2011 Major League Soccer season was about to get underway. The time together wrapped up with the game in which the Rapids beat the Timbers 3-1.

Deshorn Brown scored in the Rapids 2-0 defeat of the Timbers.

Last night, driving home after the Rapids won 2-0 against the same Timbers, I reflected on the game, the 2014 retreat that had just wrapped up and the ministry of CrossTraining, with an overwhelming sense of deja vu. In some ways, I wondered just how far CrossTraining had come and whether the last few years had been just a blur for the ministry. Let me share some of my thoughts:

First, I was sad that Ben Dudley (chaplain with the Portland Timbers) wasn’t still with CrossTraining. I recall the neat time we shared together in the same retreat house, the energy that we felt from partnering together and sharing vision and passion around providing care for the athletes and coaches that we served. The retreat was a time of bonding and building.

Image 3But while Ben wasn’t with us this year – there were other, new faces; relationships being formed – Cody Baker, Hugo Venegas, Bob Grizzle. So in the moment of sadness, I found a sense of joy and comfort, and thanks. God, you’ve brought other people into my life, to share in the ministry and the work – thank you.

Image 5Second, the beauty of the place – if you have seen the pictures, then you know that we enjoyed some of the finest views of God’s creation. Each and every year that I have been at the Columbine Ranch and the Kenosha House, I have been awed by the views of the mountains and the beauty of Colorado as well as the history of the house and South Park.

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As I sat by the fireplace reflecting on the beauty of the place, this song came to my mind. The words are a powerful expression of some of the feelings that come during times of rest and retreat. We definitely need mountain-top experiences, but the truth is that we live and dwell in the valleys. And we come back home and to the ministry to the Rapids, I asked, Lord, what things; what difficult things will you be leading me and others through in the valley?

ImageFinally, in looking back to 2011, there was a different kind of energy and excitement – the Rapids had just won the 2010 MLS Cup, we had an expanding team, there were a couple of board advisors present with us. This year – there was not the same feeling of success on the field to speak of, but there was a sense of momentum as an organization: three team members (out of four) and three board members (out of four). We prayed together, shared together, grew together in our understanding of one another and our commitment to the ministry.

Sometimes God calls us to walk in ancient paths that seem familiar to us – in fact, he tells us to look for those ancient ways and to walk in them (Jeremiah 6:16). And even though this past weekend carried a sense of the familiar, it’s familiarity has more to do with seeking God. For CrossTraining to carry on and continue, we need to lean heavily into what his will and the work that he is doing. And, God willing, he will bless it as we look to him.

Blessings,

Rev. Brad Kenney

From the Rev: Firsts

Firsts. This season, the Colorado Rapids will encounter many firsts – moments where the team and organization find themselves as never before. For example, 2014 is the first season that the team is being coached by a former player (Pablo Mastroeni). This past Saturday’s game was the first point for the new head coach, it was also the first time that two homegrown players started the same match, as well as the first professional start by Goalkeeper John Berner, and more.

Many times, the firsts in our lives are memorable for one reason or another – first kiss, first girlfriend, first job, first child, etc. The same is true in terms of our faith – when someone comes to faith in Jesus Christ it is a first – a rebirth, likened to a first love. Do you remember your first love? This metaphor has stood throughout time as a reminder, as a question of accountability.

In Revelation 2:4, Jesus is speaking to the church in Ephesus and he comments on the state of the church – lamenting that the church has “left [their] first love.” In leaving one’s first love, priorities become askew. Secondary things with secondary importance start to replace and attempt to fill the void – but they are empty and unfulfilling. C.S. Lewis put it this way:

The woman who makes a dog the centre of her life loses, in the end, not only her human usefulness and dignity but even the proper pleasure of dog-keeping.

The man who makes alcohol his chief good loses not only his job but his palate and all power of enjoying the earlier (and only pleasurable) levels of intoxication.

It is a glorious thing to feel for a moment or two that the whole meaning of the universe is summed up in one woman—glorious so long as other duties and pleasures keep tearing you away from her. But clear the decks and so arrange your life (it is sometimes feasible) that you will have nothing to do but contemplate her, and what happens?

Of course this law has been discovered before, but it will stand re-discovery. It may be stated as follows: every preference of a small good to a great, or partial good to a total good, involves the loss of the small or partial good for which the sacrifice is made.

. . . You can’t get second things by putting them first. You get second things only by putting first things first.

—C.S. Lewis, “First and Second Things,” in God in the Dock: Essays on Theology and Ethics (Eerdmans, 1994), p. 280.

As a chaplain, much of my role is to remind people of the first love – the love of God to humankind. That God would sacrifice himself and die to reconcile all of humanity – that even from the beginning of time, God has been moving toward you and me to love us, to restore relationship with us – that is a first love worth dedicating one’s life to. So many times in professional sports, there are secondary things that attempt to replace the first thing – whether it is fame or fortune or pleasure. In the end, these things, found wanting can leave one emaciated and destitute.

What does this mean for the professional athlete, the coach, or even the fan in the stand – all of the passion and love of the game will eventually be found un-gratifying to the deep longings of the soul if the first love, the first thing (God) is not first. But with God first, then all other things find their proper place of importance and can be enjoyed to the fullest.

Blessings,

Rev. Brad Kenney

 

From the Rev: Back to School

The new campus of Denver Seminary is pictured here – I often joke that as a former student I helped pay for this.

This year, I returned to Denver Seminary – no, not to speak to students about chaplaincy (although I do that occasionally) or to mentor students in CPE or pastoral care – I was actually back, sitting in a seat, acting the part of a student. As the class went around making introductions and sharing what year students were in, a sense of nostalgia came over me. It was over 10 years ago, I began a journey at this same seminary – leaving the corporate world and recently married – I came into a Master’s of Divinity program with some idea of being in ministry, but no clear direction. I knew that God had been speaking to my heart – it was more an activity of obedience than a clear sense of what life after seminary would actually look like. Interestingly enough, the day of my commencement was September 11, 2001 – the day the towers fell to terrorism. I remember wondering in the days to follow – amidst all the chaotic upheaval of life, “What will the world look like when I am finished here at seminary?”

I did not know that God would so bless me in being able to work in some of the unique spaces that I have been granted – from the athletes, coaches, and staff with the Rapids to the terminal patients of hospice to the parishioners that call Cherry Hills Community Church “home” – it has truly been a blessing to serve and minister in all those different places.

Sitting, now, in the classroom I am learning about career development and assessment – an important part of the makeup of the people that I currently serve. And even though I feel older than when I initially set out on the journey over 10 years ago – my eagerness to learn is still there. My eagerness to serve people well, to be equipped to help them in their journey is a big motivator for me going back to school.

Blessings,

Rev. Brad Kenney

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