Last night I watched the new movie Champions at our local theater. Woody Harrelson plays an assistant basketball coach who gets fired for scuffling physically with his boss on TV, gets a DUI, and then is court ordered to do community service by coaching a local team of players with intellectual difficulties. He deals his new situation better than I probably would have, jumping right in the middle of relationship building with his players and their families.
(Did I mention that people scare me? Having to meet a room full of new people, interact with EACH one individually, and then remember their names? Torture. Can't I just hide in the corner with a book instead?)
He handles it, sometimes badly, but he works it out. It the process, he learns to give people grace, and start's noticing that his players have somewhat different priorities than he does. The coach is very focused on the future- the end of the season, and the start of his own new life at his long-hoped-for dream job. But for the players, winning the game wasn't actually very important to them. What WAS important was their relationships with each other. Not very American, but here we are.
I was struck by their (sometimes misplaced?) confidence in themselves and their abilities, in spite of huge odds against them. And I am reminded of the lyrics to the worship song Champion, buy Bethel Music.
I am who you say I am
You crown me with confidence
I am seated
In the Heavenly place
Undefeated
By the power of Your name...
I have a niece with Downs Syndrome, and she is a Joy. One of the great things about her is that she lives in the moment. She isn't worried about tomorrow. Whatever she is doing RIGHT NOW- That's the stuff!!! In contrast, I am constantly thinking and praying (Read: "worrying") about the future. ("God, please make me READY!") But with her, TODAY is the Day. And it's a good one. And she is going to make the most of it.
This is scriptural, actually. Ecclesiastes 9:9-10, quoted from The Message reads:
Relish life with the spouse you love
Each and every day of your precious life.
Each day is God's gift
It's all you get in exchange
For the hard work of staying alive.
Make the most of each one!
Whatever turns up, grab it and do it.
And heartily!
This is not a Christian movie, but it made me laugh pretty hard and I would definitely see it again, and soon. Which makes it a good movie by my definition. A parent's guide to offensive content can be seen at https://www.guide4moms.com/2023/03/champions-parents-guide-movie-review.html. In spite of the pervasive crude humor, it is full of life lessons and high on the entertainment scale. It may open your mind a little if you have never been close to people with such disabilities. That alone is a good reason to watch it in, in my opinion.
CARPE DIEM!
Trailer link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pCHiWnj5Oek
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