Super Bowl Sunday- The Debate

The debate- Colts or Saints? Manning or Brees (Drew Breeeees!)? Pierre or Pierre? Nope- the debate I face is the same each year, regardless of the two championship opponents. This debate is that of faith or football, or in some cases, family or football. I was raised for the most part with no TV on Sundays, at the guidance of a stake president when I was quite young. Even now, just the discussion of sports, especially on Sundays, can bring disagreement when I get together with my siblings and their spouses.

Sundays are a day of worship, a day of rest, a day for family and a day for the Lord. It is a day of service for our fellow men. Football doesn't really go along with that. And yet, I'm stubborn. This Super Bowl will mark the fourth year in a row that my wife and I will get together with friends and/or family to watch the Super Bowl. We eat, cheer, and enjoy the time together. It is not spiritual, but it is not irreverent.

Here is my regret- it isn't something I can share with my whole family. My wife's family isn't huge into sports, but one thing they did on Sundays was watch TV together as a family, creating time together doing that. No, it wasn't the Super Bowl, but it was a family activity. I wish I COULD share this with my family (brothers, sisters, parents). I consider myself a faithful member of the Church and a spiritual man. The Super Bowl will not keep me away from Church meetings or from responsibilities to my family or to the Church. But I will be cheering on Peyton Manning, hoping to see him cement himself as one of the greatest ever.

Maybe my parents are right. Maybe I am not as good a man I could be if I chose to forgo football and TV on Sundays. No, it has not been said specifically that TV or sports on TV is wrong. Maybe it is. If so, I may someday make that change. Until then, Super Bowl Sunday will continue to be a chance to share time with friends and family (at least those that will share it with us).