Watching the broadcast I noted that they did no interviews with any Chiefs players, coaches, or managers. The only one who spoke, perhaps most appropriately for the entire team, was owner Clark Hunt. He didn't say anything different from what you'd expect him to say, but it was clear that he was speaking from the heart in addressing Jovan Belcher, what happened, the prayers and concerns for Jovan and his girlfriend's family et al, and how it all has affected the Chiefs personnel.
The game itself was actually the very best game the Chiefs put together all year. Was some of it due to the emotions running so high? Maybe, I don't know, you still gotta get the job done. Today they did it, and they did it by coming within five minutes of becoming the first Chiefs team ever to get no penalties and commit no turnovers in a single game. An ultimately meaningless delay-of-game call as they ran clock on the Panthers at the end undid that, but quite a testament to the industry and cohesiveness with which they played this game.
And that's the thing I just have to close with here in this relatively short post.
I never watch the pre-game stuff on television any more, simply because of my general sports celibacy -- it just drives me too crazy. But I did watch a bit of it today just to see what was going on with the Chiefs and the tragedy.
One of the people on those shows, I don't even remember who said it, said something along the lines of, "There is no guidebook to help us with these things."
Well, there is. It is the Bible.
It tells us that really crappy things like this do happen, way, way more than we'd ever want. Even when people don't physically murder someone they murder others all the time, emotionally, spiritually. I don't think there is any question Jovan was influenced by forces that encourage people do this, and in his situation it all just went too far.
The Answer is the One who knew this the most, and loved us the most that He died for each one of us. Yes, I am an unabashed follower of Jesus Christ who just happens to be a quite impassioned Chiefs fan. In light of what's happened I simply can't refuse to share a word here briefly about the only antidote to the violence.
So it is indeed a very good thing to do a lot of praying for family and friends, especially that little baby girl, especially her. And then stepping up and sharing with one another how much love means -- and I know lots of people feel that deep inside when they say things like "If you need help don't be afraid to ask!"
But when Jesus is in the mix then anyone dealing with this can know Who it is who loves beyond anything we can ever imagine, and then it isn't just "Get help" or "Tough it out" or "Get therapy for long periods of time," it is actually that the One who made you is also the One who buys you back from yourself, the world, and those wicked forces.
When a Panthers player was down on the field injured today, Dwayne Bowe was kneeling with his head down next to him. I've got to think that in and around what's happening as the rest of this week unfolds there in Kansas City, Jesus' name will be mentioned a few times.
He's the one thing that gives hope.
He is Hope itself.
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