Perspectives with Rev. George Frey

For the Love of Hockey

Tuesday night is a highlight of my week. It’s the night that a bunch of us guys get together at the arena to play some pretty decent hockey – the good old fashioned kind, not part of any league, not played with refs, just two teams going at it. Why?

Why do these guys go to out late in the evening (likely waking up groggy the next morning) to play Canada’s favourite sport week after week? (And there are 10s of 1000s doing the same thing all across this great land of ours.) 

Why? Dreams of glory are long past. If you play too intensely some guy might mutter that there are no scouts in the house. Neither are there any fans in the stands. And of course nobody gets paid a plug nickel.

In fact, after we lose, some guy might say, “No big deal. We’re all getting paid the same.” So why do these guys go out? Sure, it’s to get out and spend time with the guys. And it’s to get a bit of a workout. Some of us older guys (there’s a few of those, no offense) may be trying to offset aging, as if that’ll ever happen.

So why do guys all through the week and in arenas everywhere keep playing? 

I’d venture to say that for the most part it’s for the love of the game. Pure and simple.

When you think about it, that’s why we do lots of things. Out of love. Why do we crawl out of bed and head off to work everyday? Maybe it’s because we love our jobs. And likely needing the money has a lot to do with it. 

But I suggest that for many of us, it’s out of love for our families. Right? Why do we make meals and do laundry for our families? Why do we run ourselves ragged driving our kids here and there? I figure it’s because of love, love, love.

Love for someone or something is a great motivator. Because of love, we buy flowers. Because of love, we help out a buddy. Because of love, we work for the Food Bank. 

When you love, you don’t need a pat on the back for what you do. You don’t need people to notice.

If you get this it’s easy to “get” God. Everything he’s ever done, he did out of love. Think about it. 

Why did he make such a gorgeous world? Out of love for us. Why did he send his son into this world? Out of love for us. Why did his son Jesus suffer and die for the sins of this world. Out of love for us. People really do amazing and even surprising things motivated by love.

Of course the same is true of those who have personally discovered the love God has for them. Overwhelmed by God’s love, they love God in return. That love motivates them to do things for God, things like serving others, caring for the poor, or fighting for justice. They even do things like going to church or living clean lives.

Love. It makes the world go round. It’s why we do much of what we do. Whether it’s staying up late for a game of hockey or waking up early to head off to work. 

The preacher inside me would say, may all that love we see around us (and all it motivates us to do), help us see that love still higher and deeper than all our love put together, God’s. Just as we are, with all our failures, he loves us and offers us forgiveness in his son. In his love he waits for us to respond. To admit our need and receive his love.

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Love South Dundas done

What changes people? What affects them? How about seeing love in action? Seeing people give radically? 

I heard a speaker say that what single-handedly turned the Roman Empire from paganism to following Christ was the radical generosity of Christians. In a world believing in serving oneself and living to maximize pleasure, these ‘strange’ Christians lived to serve others and sacrificially gave to the needy. This turned the heads of the pagan world and eventually won their hearts.

I guess this shouldn’t be surprising. That’s how the church began. 

The Bible says this about the first Christians: “selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need.” (Acts 2:45). This wasn’t them just selling their extra stuff at yard sales. 

It goes on to say: “For there was not a needy person among them, for all who were owners of land or houses would sell them and bring the proceeds of the sales… and they would be distributed to each as any had need.(Acts 4:34-35)

Wow. It’s one thing to sell the junk in the basement or my extra perennials to have money to give to the needy, but property or a house? You have to admit, that’s pretty radical. And as that speaker spoke of, yes, already in this very first church, this crazy giving spoke to and drew people to Christ.

That brings me to Love South Dundas. I don’t think anyone quite gave up a house or a piece of land as part of this, but we did witness lots of giving, some of it quite touching. 

There were the random acts of kindness, people anonymously giving to others. There was the baking of delicious goodies that were distributed to show appreciation to businesses and service organizations. And there were also many who gave financially.

A Christian business owner paid for a huge Bouncy Castle, another paid half for a second one. A family dropped by my door to donate hundreds. And the list goes on and on. Almost $1,000 was given to give out free DVDs of the life of Christ. The Pentecostal Church blessed us with the money and person-power to put on a free barbecue. Others put in countless hours working for the event. For all this giving, we are very grateful.

But why did they give? And why so generously? 

There’s only one answer and it’s simple and yet profound. Each and everyone of these business owners and individuals gave because they received. They have understood and accepted the greatest gift ever, salvation through Christ Jesus. By accepting what Christ did on the cross for them, they have received a new life now and an eternity in heaven. Overwhelmed by God’s love for them, they simply want to share that love with others.

Love South Dundas is over. It was two weeks during which the churches of the area worked to show love to the community.

It’s our prayer that people who saw this love would ask “Why? What’s this about?” 

It’s our hope that our giving would turn heads and ultimately turn hearts back to the Master Giver, God himself. And to his most amazing gift: JESUS.

Pastor Clarence Witten

Community Christian 

Reformed Church

Dixon’s Corners

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