THE NED FOR A COMMITMENT
«He guards the paths of justice, and preserves the way of His saint»
(Proverbs 2:8).
DECISIONS
That afternoon I was sitting in the grandstand of one of the most popular stadiums in Buenos Aires (Argentina). I must confess that, until then, I had not realized what soccer represents for this culture. But, little by little, the stands were populated with fans dressed in the colors of the local team. The funny thing is, without la-rowing it, I was sitting right in the area of the most radical group. Soon the stadium was draped in «rags,» as the people call the flags that hang over the fences that are next to the field, and the anthems could be heard. When the team arrived to the beat of drums, chants, and whistles, the human tide was opened up space to make room for the players. From that moment, the fans did not stop supporting their team (even though the game left much to be desired) until the game ended. I have to confess that I have seldom seen such a commitment in favor of an icon: clothing, attitude, singing fervor, passion, loyalty. All of them are religious elements. At time even, the fans started to jump on the stands in the midst of a rather peculiar excitement, which I, too, had to participate in under the intimidating gaze of those around me.
Such a commitment is a kind of irrational obligation to favor some element, even if it is not understood or worth it. It is simply done to channel a fundamental part of human nature: the need to acquire a compromise. The interesting thing is that today we insist that people do not want to make commitments. But the truth is that people have a great desire to commit to something. However, they do not want to engage with traditional institutions, such as the church or marriage, but with elements as fleeting as a T-shirt of a soccer team, a popular musical group, or a figure of the world of showbiz. It is more practical to think that these elements have supernatural attributes or deserve personal devotion. But that is just a reflection of a society starving for commitment.
God created us with the need to establish commitments and give our loyalty to something worthwhile. So we must not be afraid to commit to Him, for His promise is: «Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life» (Revelation 2:10).
Ask the Lord today to give you the courage to establish commitments that build your character.
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Take From: Daily Devotions for Youth 2020
«A New You»
From: Alejandro Medina Villareal
Collaborators: Gezer Noria & Misael Morillo