Random Thoughts On Athletes And God

Some athletes make the sign of the cross, or pray, before they engage in a team sport or a one on one competition.  This blogger wonders what they could be asking God for, that they win or that they have been given the gift of athleticism to be able to partake in their respective sport.

In most competitions, there are going to be winners and losers.  Rare is the instance where there is a tie.  Without naming names, there are teams and athletes that are exceptionally gifted, and they win more often than they lose.

Athletes participate in competitive sports to win.  It is normal for people to play to win, and it should also be normal for people to pray for a win, but does a win have any meaning when the opposing team has no athletic talent whatsoever?  Is it even fun to play sports when the game is not competitive?  Would it not be boring?  Would there even be an audience?

While winning is an achievement that brings satisfaction, winning against the competition that is equally skilled brings even more satisfaction.  Therefore, it is essential that well-matched athletes are on opposing sides.

Does anyone give any thought to as to where so many athletes get their exceptional athleticism, and to how there can be excellent athletes in every sport requiring unique skill sets at every level within a certain age range, and to the consistency that such athletes are born in every generation?

Also, does anyone give any thought to the fact that athletic talents are not limited to people with certain religious beliefs?

Do athletes who pray,  pray that they would be able to stay at their prime so that they can excel in the sport of their choosing for as long as they live?  Or are they only concerned with winning the match-up moments before it begins?

What about saying a prayer of gratitude before every competition, thanking God for giving the gift of athleticism to all athletes who challenge each other to be better in the sport, so that a competitive match of endurance, strength and skills can take place?

Accordingly, competitive sports ought not to be just about winning; it ought to be a celebration of each other's athleticism, given by God, to be each other's well-matched opponents, in order to challenge one another, to be the best athlete possible, and after it is all over, be the well-respected and loved athlete, no matter the religion or how many wins or losses one has accumulated during one's athletic career.