Some of you might be familiar with Joe Kennedy, a high school football coach in Washington state who has been under fire from the school’s administration for privately praying on the 50 yard line following each football game. Kennedy has engaged in this practice since 2008, when he saw the movie Facing the Giants and resolved “to try and make a difference in … kids’ lives.” Ironically, the catalyst that led to his “cease and desist” letter from the school was a compliment paid to the principal on his behalf. To his credit, Coach Kennedy refused to back down, which has led to him being placed on paid administrative leave while the administration investigates his conduct.
As I’ve been following this story, I couldn’t help but remember my years of playing high school football. Before each and every game, I spent time alone praying for the game. I prayed for the safety of my teammates (as well as those on the other team), for good sportsmanship, and that I might be a light for Christ on and off the field. Later, as the team gathered together to hear the coaches’ last pep talks before taking the field, we would all kneel together and recite the Model Prayer. I know for a fact some of our coaches and many of our teachers were praying for each member of the team (they weren’t shy about letting us know!). What’s more, I remember at our home games being led in prayer by the PA announcer, who happened to be a deacon at my church. At my high school graduation in 1995, I was asked by my class to give the invocation prayer. As a class, we asked one of our teachers, Mr. Flanagan, to pray over us toward the end of the ceremony. He did so, and there was not a dry eye in the gym. Granted, my little mountain community has always been a little behind the times (often a good thing!), but I think we can all agree the times are changing – and changing quickly.
It shouldn’t surprise us that our enemy is going after a person who is both influential in the lives of young people and is a prayer warrior. There is very little that scares Satan more than a Christian who understands the power of prayer and is committed to being on his or her knees before the throne of God. In the Old Testament, we find an example of a man who met this description: Daniel. Away from his home, in a pagan land, and surrounded by secular people, Daniel remained steadfast in his communication with his Lord. Not even the law of the land could keep Daniel from praying (see Daniel 6:1-28), even though Daniel knew it could cost him his very life.
How important is prayer to us? Coach Kennedy was faced with a similar situation to that of Daniel, being told by his superiors to stop praying in such a public manner. However, there was no way he could not pray, just as it was with Daniel. What would be our response in the face of such a threat? If we were told to either stop praying in a public manner or lose our jobs (or worse), what would be our response? The time may come when each one of us will have to answer that question. Just something to think about…
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