EDMOND — Recently I have been thinking about expectations. There were lofty expectations for the Sooners and Cowboys prior to this football season.
Those of us who are Sooner fans had our hopes dashed the first week, when the University of Oklahoma lost its season opener to Brigham Young University. Cowboy fans had the thrill of seeing their team ranked No. 5 in national polls only to suffer a disappointing loss to the University of Houston. Of course, the Big 12 regular season hasn’t even begun, and both OU and OSU still can have good seasons. In the meantime, fans just need to have more realistic expectations.
Turning to tennis, some sports analysts have been lamenting the failure of U.S. men to advance to the final rounds of the Grand Slam tournaments. And Serena Williams’ recent match-ending tirade has many shaking their heads.
There is a certain pleasure to be derived at shaking our heads at the foibles of others. We can spend a lot of energy focusing on the shortcomings of those in the public eye, on the playing field or on the tennis court. However, it might not be a bad idea to focus more of our attention on God’s expectations of us.
God has blessed us with a beautiful world. God has blessed us with gifts and talents with which to glorify his name. Most importantly, God has blessed us with his son, Jesus, who offers salvation to all who trust in him.
God has been more than faithful. We are the ones who often fall short. As Mark Twain said, “Most people are bothered by those passages of Scripture they do not understand, but the passages that bother me are those I do understand.”
Most of us know how God wants us to live. Most of us know how God wants us to love. So how are we doing? If a heavenly columnist were to write about your efforts or mine, how would we measure up?
When I pause and ponder this question, I always come to the conclusion that I could do better. I could love God more wholeheartedly. I could be kinder and more compassionate and patient with those around me. There is enough stress in people’s lives today. What our society needs are more people who are committed to being instruments of God’s love.
I will still keep watching football and the other sports I enjoy, cheering for my team to win. However, I am called to do more with my life than be a spectator. So are you. This autumn as the leaves turn to red and gold, let us renew our efforts to turn to the Lord, allowing our loving God to work in us and through us. God has expectations of us, expectations that we can meet, if we remember that he is with us every step of the way.
JOHN METZINGER is senior pastor at The Catholic Church of St. John The Baptist in Edmond. He may be reached at metzinger@stjohn-catholic.org.
