Thank you for your wonderful email this morning. God bless you always. So many things in your writing today touched me. The story about how you fell in love with soccer. I’m 69 yrs, my father too enjoyed th he game, except in 1968 when he died there was no watching the game. He listened on the radio in Antigua where we lived. And he played the pools.(betting which team would win) By the way, I’m a member of First Presbyterian Church of Brooklyn. Once again God bless you
I loved this! Team Not Just A Game and what a lovely link to Advent! I'm cheering for the USMNT as long as they're in it; England is my second team. How can anyone not cheer for Marcus Rashford??
My wife and I sponsored her Chinese Mom living in Shanghai to join us in Boston over 20 years ago. Mom was an avid sports fan and that was one of the many connections we shared (also, we both had a “thing” for her daughter). Before her arrival I added the NBA and Premier League channels to our cable and as a former competitive athlete it wasn’t long before I joined Mom in front of the TV watching Kobe,et.al. and the British footballers. One night I heard Mom going downstairs to the living room around 3:30 and thinking that she might be ill, I followed her and found her on the couch under the throw blankets watching a “football” match between China and Japan. It was the World Cup tournament and despite the time zone challenges (I think the games were played in Paris that year) Mom did her best to catch many of the games. Growing up I was an American footballer in high school and knew little of the other football. The game had not caught on the way it has in recent years, but there was something about this tournament that had its grip on me. Actually, the grip’s tentacles began a few years before when, by accident, I watched the women teams from America and China play to a “nil-nil tie.” I was on a business trip to San Jose and was sent inside to my hotel room on that Sunday by the punishing Silicon Valley heat and humidity and by chance flipped on the game. Not sure why but I quickly got hooked and watched every second the match plus shootout (this was the game that produced the famous Brandy Chastain bra-revealing goal). It remains the single-most exciting sporting event I have ever witnessed. I have played sports all my life and ‘futbal” is indeed the most elegant game of all. I wish I played it when I was a young athlete.
Mom worked up an appetite during the first half of the match and so I trotted into the kitchen and whipped us up a cheese-pepper-scallion omelet with a side of rye toast. Mom cleaned her plate and asked for more. It was barely dawn and the two of us were as excited as young school kids. I think Japan bet China by a single goal if I remember, but I know who the real winner was. Yours truly. Gooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooal!!!
A word on pumpkin pie: We had the BEST pumpkin pie ever - and it wasn't made with pumpkin! It was made with kabocha squash, which looks like pumpkin in color. Try it next time. You will thank me.
I teared up over the Iranian team. I had mixed feelings about that match. I rooted for the US, but also a little bit for Iran. I've been praying for their safety since they lost.
I love how this game brings people together - so much delight and heartbreak! I'm not a huge fan, but have had such delight over the years connecting with people during matches - especially world cup. Coworkers, students, and most recently my neighbors, the Ortiz family, who have just been beside themselves. It has been great to trade thumbs up or down, cheers or laments. Moments in the driveway.
Thank you for this essay, and for sharing how you were drawn in to the game. And I love the connection to Advent. Thinking about Advent waiting and longing like fans at the world cup is such a fantastic (and very different for me) way to think about this season. Thank you.
Jeff, With all the holiday food and messages, It was uolifting to hear your World Cup stories. Yes, a Beautiful Game but I failed to see ther biblical connection until your comments. Hopefully we will see you in Charlotte, NC, soon. Today's message was a blessing and and an enlightenment. Waldo
Always a gracious read, Jeff. Thank you. I’m not really a sports fan, but you almost have me convinced to give football a try. And I can’t wait to check out Butter Block next time I can cross the border! It’s only about 1.5 hours away!
I've befriended a couple of Afghan refugee families in the past year and it is always so special when they open their kitchens to me and my family. You're right: kabuli pulao is truly comfort food at its best. I can feel the love in every bite, and when roast lamb or halal chicken is added, it's pure heaven.
I hope that one of the 32 families that have resettled in my little city will someday open an Afghan restaurant here. They have so much goodness to offer.
Thank you for your wonderful email this morning. God bless you always. So many things in your writing today touched me. The story about how you fell in love with soccer. I’m 69 yrs, my father too enjoyed th he game, except in 1968 when he died there was no watching the game. He listened on the radio in Antigua where we lived. And he played the pools.(betting which team would win) By the way, I’m a member of First Presbyterian Church of Brooklyn. Once again God bless you
I loved this! Team Not Just A Game and what a lovely link to Advent! I'm cheering for the USMNT as long as they're in it; England is my second team. How can anyone not cheer for Marcus Rashford??
My wife and I sponsored her Chinese Mom living in Shanghai to join us in Boston over 20 years ago. Mom was an avid sports fan and that was one of the many connections we shared (also, we both had a “thing” for her daughter). Before her arrival I added the NBA and Premier League channels to our cable and as a former competitive athlete it wasn’t long before I joined Mom in front of the TV watching Kobe,et.al. and the British footballers. One night I heard Mom going downstairs to the living room around 3:30 and thinking that she might be ill, I followed her and found her on the couch under the throw blankets watching a “football” match between China and Japan. It was the World Cup tournament and despite the time zone challenges (I think the games were played in Paris that year) Mom did her best to catch many of the games. Growing up I was an American footballer in high school and knew little of the other football. The game had not caught on the way it has in recent years, but there was something about this tournament that had its grip on me. Actually, the grip’s tentacles began a few years before when, by accident, I watched the women teams from America and China play to a “nil-nil tie.” I was on a business trip to San Jose and was sent inside to my hotel room on that Sunday by the punishing Silicon Valley heat and humidity and by chance flipped on the game. Not sure why but I quickly got hooked and watched every second the match plus shootout (this was the game that produced the famous Brandy Chastain bra-revealing goal). It remains the single-most exciting sporting event I have ever witnessed. I have played sports all my life and ‘futbal” is indeed the most elegant game of all. I wish I played it when I was a young athlete.
Mom worked up an appetite during the first half of the match and so I trotted into the kitchen and whipped us up a cheese-pepper-scallion omelet with a side of rye toast. Mom cleaned her plate and asked for more. It was barely dawn and the two of us were as excited as young school kids. I think Japan bet China by a single goal if I remember, but I know who the real winner was. Yours truly. Gooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooal!!!
A word on pumpkin pie: We had the BEST pumpkin pie ever - and it wasn't made with pumpkin! It was made with kabocha squash, which looks like pumpkin in color. Try it next time. You will thank me.
I teared up over the Iranian team. I had mixed feelings about that match. I rooted for the US, but also a little bit for Iran. I've been praying for their safety since they lost.
I love how this game brings people together - so much delight and heartbreak! I'm not a huge fan, but have had such delight over the years connecting with people during matches - especially world cup. Coworkers, students, and most recently my neighbors, the Ortiz family, who have just been beside themselves. It has been great to trade thumbs up or down, cheers or laments. Moments in the driveway.
Thank you for this essay, and for sharing how you were drawn in to the game. And I love the connection to Advent. Thinking about Advent waiting and longing like fans at the world cup is such a fantastic (and very different for me) way to think about this season. Thank you.
I couldn't find the link to the embodied advent time. Is it in the blog?
https://anamcara.as.me/Embodied-Advent
Oops
Found it thx!
Jeff, With all the holiday food and messages, It was uolifting to hear your World Cup stories. Yes, a Beautiful Game but I failed to see ther biblical connection until your comments. Hopefully we will see you in Charlotte, NC, soon. Today's message was a blessing and and an enlightenment. Waldo
Always a gracious read, Jeff. Thank you. I’m not really a sports fan, but you almost have me convinced to give football a try. And I can’t wait to check out Butter Block next time I can cross the border! It’s only about 1.5 hours away!
I've befriended a couple of Afghan refugee families in the past year and it is always so special when they open their kitchens to me and my family. You're right: kabuli pulao is truly comfort food at its best. I can feel the love in every bite, and when roast lamb or halal chicken is added, it's pure heaven.
I hope that one of the 32 families that have resettled in my little city will someday open an Afghan restaurant here. They have so much goodness to offer.
Jeff! So many memories flooding back of watching World Cup matches at all hours with my sons.
"The beauty of belonging."