The Superlative Bowl!

Finally, all of you should be of one mind. Sympathize with each other. Love each other as brothers and sisters. Be tenderhearted, and keep a humble attitude.
—1 Peter 3:8-9

Did you have a fun time with friends last evening watching the "Super Bowl?" My wife and I certainly did as we enjoyed the friendly banter, the commercials, the game, and time with new friends.

What is "super" about the "Super Bowl" other than what we call it? Here are a few interesting facts: the average NFL salary is $770,000, the price of a 30 second commercial has dropped recently to $2,600,000, the viewing audience numbers some 106,000,000, the attendance was 103,219, the winning team members each got a bonus of $88,000, and the losing team each got $44,000. These might qualify for a title with a superlative!


But you know what happens every Monday morning after the "Super Bowl" … life and service, work and family schedules. If you were to ask me, the real "super" stars are not those on the gridiron, but each person faithfully and humbly serving those whom God has placed in their lives. Moms, dads, teachers, nurses, doctors, mail carriers, snow plough drivers. or pool staff … you get the drift.

I looked in the electronic concordance that lists every word in scripture and searched on the word "super." It does not appear in the NIV, or the KJV, or the NKJV, or the RSV, or the NRSV.

I wonder why "super" isn’t part of the Biblical writing? Might it have something to do with passages such as:

• Finally, all of you should be of one mind. Sympathize with each other. Love each other as brothers and sisters. Be tenderhearted, and keep a humble attitude. 1 Peter 3:8-9
• Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Eph 4:2
• Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." Matt 11:28-30

You may never play on a team that wins $88,000 in bonus, and you may only have an audience of one, yet you are much more a super star, as fame doesn’t really count when faithfulness makes the difference. The Super Bowl isn’t a once-a-year event. In the real world it is played out every moment of every day by you and the team of associates and partners with whom you serve. Every day you make "wins" for the patients and their families who come trusting you for their care.

Next time you want to watch the Super Bowl, just look around you any day, any time and thank the Lord for the people with whom you serve and the differences you make!