Rose Bowl Visitation
John Fischer

I had a significant encounter with the Holy Spirit Wednesday night while watching the much-anticipated Rose Bowl game between USC and Texas on television. It had nothing to do with what was happening on the field. It had everything to do with the build up.

I have been following the success of the southern California team since their undefeated season last year. I've always been a little enamored with the Trojan maroon and gold ever since as a kid I attended a USC vs. Notre Dame game in the Los Angeles Coliseum where USC came from a three-touchdown deficit at halftime to defeat the Irish in the final seconds. It left an indelible impression.

This week's game had plenty to grab your interest. This year's three Heisman Trophy candidates, two 12-0 teams, and a 34-game win streak on the line. They were calling it the match up of the century. Prior to the kickoff, one of the announcers spoke for me when he said, “So much hype has been heaped on this college football game I'm beginning to have a hard time swallowing.”

I had even experienced some anxiety over whether I was going to be able to see the game, but with my wife away on a business trip and my six-year-old asleep in my lap, I settled in for the showdown.

Midway through the game I realized how much I was into this. My muscles were actually tensing up every time Texas got the ball. (I was just doing my part to help the Trojan defense stop Vince Young. They didn't.) After USC blew three opportunities to build a big early lead, and it became obvious that the Texas quarterback was going to be able to do whatever he wanted with the ball, it suddenly hit me: “What if USC loses this game?” And then I had to laugh out loud because the answer came back, “Nothing important.”

And suddenly, for no reason at all, the love of God completely washed over me. It was as if He whispered, “Dear John. You got wrapped up in all this didn't you? Well let me just wrap you up in Me right now.”

That was it. No judgment. No guilt. Just the obvious: God… compared to a football game.

And here's what God didn't say: “Just think of all that time and energy you wasted on this game you could have put to better use.” I don't think God ever says things like that. We might think them, and they might even be true, but thoughts like that don't come from God. It's not in His nature to kick us when we come to Him; but to welcome us, and let the reality of His presence put everything else in perspective.

PDL