Echoes
Some competition may have higher stakes than we think.
Andrew competes. Seriously. His favorite pastime is basketball, and in spite of his age (68) and failing health, he plays a physical game, for several hours most days.
His “faith” (I mean his religious belief system) must need frequent threat, too, because he competes with the daily news as though it is a rival on the religion court. Daily, he collects evidence that either supports or threatens his ideas. For example, if a politician says something that sounds suspiciously progay rights, Andrew is galvanized into action, as excited as a right guard moving to pick an opponent dribbling toward a two pointer in public opinion. He is a modern day crusader, defending a “faith” that is always under threat.
Off‑court and off‑guard, Andrew is a different man. Generosity toward his family, an unfeigned adoration for his wife, charity toward his friends ‑ his many virtues flourish. Unfortunately, he doesn’t seem to see these moments as “religious.” (I think his wife does. I know I do.)
I view Andrew’s relaxed moments as his finest hours, spiritually, but to him, they seem more like timeouts. For him, religion is a good fight. If he’s acting spontaneously, with ease, it must not seem Godly; if it isn’t difficult, it must not put points on his scoreboard!
Some competition may have higher stakes than we think.