Jesus Gives Faithful ND & OSU the Nod

When Notre Dame’s QB Riley Leonard credits “open faith” for bringing both the Irish & Ohio State together for the national title, he’s not talking about winning on points but playing for the Glory of God, win or lose.

“I truly think things happen for a reason,” Leonard this week told Sports Michiana. “I don’t know if this is some divine teaching who put us here … [but] … I truly believe that Jesus was looking over both our shoulders throughout the whole season & put these two teams on a pedestal for a reason.” As for how Leonard brought the team back from apparent defeat at the hands of Penn State, he replied, “Shoot, I just started trusting in the Lord. I looked up & said, ‘Jesus, whatever Your will is for my life, I trust it 100%. This offense & this team trust in Jesus & His plan for this season.”

That trust presumably includes, of course, the reality only one team having the right stuff (faith) will win the national title Jan. 20, i.e., after Trump’s miraculous comeback to the White House. Riley’s right about having faith in God’s plan for us let alone the world. I recall this same faith that many years ago raised my high school aged basketball team of neophytes to a 32-1 record in that year’s Word of Life international basketball tournament culminating at an Upstate New York venue. Only 2 of the 12 team members living dangerous lives in Chicago’s notorious gang-controlled Cabrini Green high rise had ever played any organized b-ball until then. Smallest team in tourney, too. Yet, the Moody Bible Institute graciously sponsored us. But, most importantly, I believe, was our unconditional commitment to putting our fate in Jesus’ hands. “FAITH” was our battle cry coming out of every huddle. And, after making what seemed like a miraculous come back & making the winning shot in the last second of the championship game, each of us knew, our trust in Jesus, not any great talent on our part, had sustained us. Not only in that tourney, but for the rest of our lives, win, lose or draw.

Davd Soul