Our last retreat this year ended on a sour note. As we were wrapping up our closing announcements only 2 minutes after 2 p.m. (the scheduled time to finish), two moms rushed into the room to drag their boys out. I asked if they could wait just three more minutes so the young men could hear the rest of the announcements and pick up some free stuff. One mom replied, “Oh no, he has baseball practice down the road in fifteen minutes. No way, he has to leave now!”

Now, I want to admit right here that on our retreats we really try to start on time and end on time. Our retreat schedules are meticulously planned out, to the minute, and as professionals we need to do our best not to keep people waiting. However, anyone knows that things can happen which can cause minor glitches in the most well-planned events, making them start late or go slightly longer than planned.

Overtime
For example, I have attended countless sporting events, amateur and professional, that went into overtime. And, when this happens, I typically do not complain. In fact, I love it. My parents instilled in me the importance of sticking with your team at critical moments. But overtime doesn’t just apply to sporting games; even practices go overtime. When preparing for Nationals, my pom pon practices would often extend a few minutes overtime, even after five or seven hour practices, but I somehow always found the time to stay. And, my parents did not complain about the long practices because they understood that dedication to the team was important.

So, why is it that our faith cuts into our sports time, but sports – even long sporting events – don’t seem to “cut” into our faith experience? Have you ever seen a frantic parent pull their kid out of a sporting activity because it takes away from attending Mass or prayer time? I have not. We too often treat sports like a meal – a necessity for which we find time; we treat faith like a dessert – a bonus if we get it at all. A confirmation retreat, sometimes the only retreat a young Catholic experiences, comes second to select soccer games and “required” practices. Connecting with Jesus is great if it fits into the schedule, but connecting a soccer ball with the inside of a net is where our true devotion lies.

Body & Soul
I am not saying that sports are bad. They are wonderful and I learned many life lessons from them. But they are just one part of life. As Christians, our souls need the same type of practice and activity that our bodies and minds get from sports. In fact, we do not actually need sports to be healthy, happy individuals. Starving one’s soul, however, leads us to emptiness. One couple I know told their kids they could only play sports if they were also committed to a youth group, which made the statement that they cared as much about their kids’ souls as they did about their athletic ability. All four of their kids turned out to be very strong in their faith and in athletics. One child was even a state wrestler and is now a youth minister.

In our Archdiocese, we are blessed that the sports program, CYC, strongly advocates a heathly perspective on sports. As stated in it's policies, sporting practices or games will be cancelled for parish missions, Confirmation retreats and any religious events.  It's time for parents especially to catch onto this vision - sports are a great hobby but we worship God alone.  As the CYC stresses, matters of the soul are too important to be given second place.

Team Work
Many parents complain when a retreat or spiritual event interferes with a sporting event because it would let down the team if their son or daughter could not attend. But, how much do each of us let down the Church community, our team in faith, when we’re spiritually absent or lazy? With this mentality we wait for other kids to step forward in church leadership because my child is too busy. Someone else’s kids will be the priests or nuns for the next generation. Someone else’s kids will be spiritual role models to younger kids. And then we wonder why kids fall away from faith in college. They have bought the mind-set that faith is primarily just for me and only when it is convenient for me. Sports and group projects at school we consider teamwork, but faith is just what works for God and me. In the Catholic Church, even through our prayers at Mass, we make it clear that we need each other – all parts of the body of Christ. It is not solely about a personal relationship with Jesus. If we are truly close to Jesus, He compels us to be in community and of service to others. Could it be even more important to be on God’s team than on a select soccer team?

We should encourage our kids to play sports and pursue hobbies so they might grow in dedication, hard work and perseverance. But, let us never lose sight of what we worship, what should always come first and what ultimately leads us to everlasting life.