Dear Spiritual Companions,
Yesterday was a big day in the life of New Orleans – our football team, The New Orleans Saints won the Super Bowl. You would think the big deal would be related to winning the game, but NO it is related to what winning the game means to the city and its team. Often what happens to us externally has no ultimate effect until we look at what is happening internally. For the longest time New Orleans has been looked upon as a sports city made up of losers and many of us living here have accepted this external notion. Of course this is not true. In God’s Realm there are no losers, there are only events in life where we might lose a game of football. What happens in our outer world simply does not change our inner identity. In 43 years of existence as a football team we never won a Super Bowl let alone even made it to one. As a city we allowed this to be one among many events that labeled us as losers. The biggest and most devastating example of this was Hurricane Katrina which arrived on August 29, 2005! We have been trying so hard to put our city back together since then. The courage individuals have shown in doing this as well as putting their homes back together reveals the heart and soul of an inner city of champions.
Many of the members and coaches of the New Orleans Saints arrived in 2006, right after the Hurricane. They saw the devastation of our city and the lack of response from governments on many levels. Their hearts were affected in ways they never dreamed could be possible. When something touches us deep inside it affects the way we see our outer reality. A significant love affair between a football team and a city on it’s knees began to grow. Now I know some people may say I am getting caught up in the excitement of the victory in Super Bowl 44, but I don’t think so. I have lived in many cities during my life and followed many different teams. I have experienced the bond made between those cities and teams, but I have never seen the intimacy present here. It is like a healthy relationship where what happens to me affects you and vice versa. This is what I believe makes this time and place unique.
When something life changing occurs, especially like a hurricane, there is an opportunity for individuals and life defining moments to meet spirit to spirit. So many times we ask why did this terrible hurricane affect so many people? It is truly the wrong question. My wife, youngest daughter and I were here when Katrina hit. We did a “Vertical Evacuation.” We were in the Airport Hilton Hotel, on the third floor, when Katrina hit. The winds were blowing close to 100 mph when the electricity went out in the middle of the night. It was one of the scariest moments in our lives which we will never forget. That is not however what I focus on. What I remember were the brave individuals who came from around the country to help us rebuild and continue to come to help us. I remember acts of kindness by individuals who had little or nothing and were willing to share what little they had. I remember people who did not lose hope in spite of boarding buses to destinations to places unknown. Many of those persons have not returned or have found new and safer residences in other cities. When out outer world falls apart God invites us within our hearts where Love is stronger than chaos and death. The right question to me becomes, “How does God do this?” The only answer I have discovered is “It is a Mystery.”
This Mystery also describes the bond between the City of New Orleans and its football team The Saints. This team was awarded it’s franchise on All Saints Day. New Orleans is a Catholic Community and naturally that particular day means a lot. I don’t think it was by accident we were awarded a franchise on that day, in fact, I see it as one of those Holy Coincidences. This year was described as a year of destiny for the Saints. Most people refer to the meaning of that statement because they won it all. I know a God who truly isn’t into who wins and loses at sporting events. Rather a God who uses certain events to offer an opportunity to affect our destiny. If we can believe that we can overcome a lot of obstacles. Who can say how much helping to put this city back together affected the way the team played on the field? But what I do know is it has affected the responsibility they feel to helping a city and it’s inhabitants find new life. God, I believe is using and has been using a hurricane named Katrina to transform a city, a football team and many other individuals who have come to help. Disaster can bring new life if seen from within.
From my spiritual perspective I see what happens within us intermingling with what is happening outside us. We can use the gift God has given us, what is within us to transform what is outside of us, or we can hold onto a self defeating question of why does God allow destruction? The choice is up to us. The City of New Orleans and its football team, The New Orleans Saints, has chosen to build on their intimate relationship based on internal gifts.
Peace