The most valuable player in the Men’s NCAA Tournament has not been a player but a nun. If you’re one of the few people (unlike me) who picked #8 Loyola Chicago to upset #1 Illinois, you can thank sister Jean for that. Jean Dolores Schmidt, popularly known as sister Jean, is a nun and chaplain at Loyola Chicago. She has served as the basketball team’s chaplain since 1994. Sister Jean is a superfan of the Loyola Chicago Rambler men’s basketball team. She is known for bringing energy and passion to every one of their games. Oh, and did I mention she is 101 years old! This week I learned a new word, neoteny. It “refers to the retention of youthful qualities into adulthood” (Batterson). Sister Jean comes to mind when I think of neoteny. I am not sure if anyone of us would be able to tell the difference between her and a college student during a Loyola basketball game.
Two weeks ago sister Jean delivered the game winning prayer that propelled the Loyola Ramblers to defeat the number one ranked Illinois Fighting Illini by a whooping score of 71-51. Here is what she prayed:
“As we play the Fighting Illini, we ask for special help to overcome this team and get a great win, we hope to score early and make our opponents nervous. We have a great opportunity to convert rebounds as this team makes about 50% of layups and 30% of its 3 points. Our defense can take care of that."
What is most fascinating about this prayer is that, not only did the Loyola Ramblers win but they made 51% of their layups, made 40% of their 3 point shots and out rebounded the Fighting Illini. Talk about divine intervention! As a former athlete who often prayed before each game, I struggled with the question: “Does God truly care about the outcome of the game?” I recently reached out to former teammates and athletes to get their thoughts on this question. This is what each said:
Crystal: (Women's Soccer): I think God does care about our effort and attitude, that “we work as if we are working for the Lord and not for men.” (Col. 3:23)
Isaac (College Football): I do believe God cares about each individual, so there might be times that God blesses a player because he knows that he will give the glory back to him! Tim Tebow's magical run is a great example of that!
Eghosa (Men's Track & Field): I definitely prayed and asked God to reach a new personal best performance many times. In most cases, that would result in victory. However I don't recall specifically praying for victory. However I don't think it's too different from a job interview, in which you're essentially praying for victory relative to the other candidates... I think he cares about the outcome only to the extent that your positioning will be used as a vehicle for his glory. And that can happen in a myriad of ways so hard to connect all the dots but I think he cares about how the outcome will be used to further his kingdom.
Jose (NFL): I think He cares more about the individuals who sincerely profess His name publicly and privately unapologetically. I think of Tim Tebow.
Dustin (College Football): It’s clear that God does not show favoritism. I was always raised to not pray for a win. However, I believe God cares about every detail of your life. So if you care about it, he cares about it. Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart. In all my sports I was told to play for an audience of One. Enjoying the Lord with my gifts. The Lord multiplies what we give to Him (talents included). The Lord humbles the proud. Gives grace (empowerment) to the humble.
Lauren (Women's Volleyball): God doesn't care so much about the outcome of the game in terms of wins or losses, but he cares about it because we care about it. Whether we win or lose, God cares about how it impacts us. A few verses come to mind for me in particular: Psalm 56:8 which says, "You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in your bottle. You have recorded each one in your book." Psalm 139:13-14 "For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb..." God created us down to every detail and put the desires we have in our heart. He loves us more than we can imagine, and when you love someone, you care about the details of their life. Luke 12:6-7 says that "Not one of them is forgotten before God. Why, even the hairs of your head are numbered." Everything is small compared to God - our problems, our worries, and fears - but nothing is too small for him to care about or to pay attention to. Even the hairs on our head or the outcome of a game. As a final thought, I'm a huge believer that sports are a critical mission field in the kingdom of God. Perhaps that win or loss has a much greater purpose than we know or will ever know. God can and will use the outcome of a game for His glory. And He so graciously invites us to be a part of this if we allow Him to.
Chad (College Football): God is more concerned with the result of our hearts more than the results of our games. God’s judgement of us won’t center around our stats or athletic accomplishments, but rather the posture of our hearts amid pursuing those accomplishments.
I appreciate each athlete’s response. If I can sum up their words, it sounds like they are speaking from Colossians 3:17, “And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” The outcome God is most concerned with is that we honor and give him glory in our victories or defeat.
Batterson, Mark. Win the Day, Multnomah, 2020.
https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/31107521/loyola-chicago-upsets-top-seeded-illinois-ncaa-tournament-sister-jean-pregame-prayer
Great write up my brother Joel. A good reminder that God does care about what we do and that we do it unto Him. That we give Him the glory and the honor. Amen