THIRTY SECONDS

It was estimated that more than 20,000 people began gathering before sunrise to watch Texas Stadium implode.  One man who was interviewed said he had been up more than twenty-four hours to attend the big event.  The “Super Bowl” ending (as one fan described it) of this Texas landmark was televised on local stations.  Texas Stadium was completed in 1971 at a cost of 35 million dollars. At the time it was the most unique football stadium in the world. It had a hole in the top so that, according to local legend, “God could watch His favorite team.” 

Compare the cost of the old Texas Stadium to the 1.2 billion dollar price tag for the new Cowboys Stadium. The humongous megatron alone in the new stadium cost more than Texas Stadium. The new massive structure resembles an intergalactic space ship as you make your approach.  It has already hosted an NBA All Star game and is scheduled to host next year’s Super Bowl, a final four, as well as numerous other major events.  The new stadium has been dubbed, “Jerry-World,” “The Jerry-Dome,” and one not so admiring local sports talk guru called in, “The Boss Hogg Bowl.” The big discussion now is what will be built on the site of the old stadium?  Oh, did I mentioned that the implosion took thirty seconds???  Thirty Seconds!!  I am a huge Dallas Cowboys apologist, and have been (like many Alabamians), since the great Lee Roy Jordan came west in the early Sixties, but this all seems a little much to me. However, it did get me to thinking, what can happen in thirty seconds? If a massive structure can be destroyed in thirty seconds, what could we do that would be constructive?

In thirty seconds one could begin to rebuild a broken relationship with those three magic word, “I was wrong,” “I am sorry,” or “I love you.”

In thirty seconds you can give thanks to God for the numerous ways He has blessed your life.

In thirty seconds you can say thank you to a friend for sharing their life with you.

In thirty seconds you can lend a helping hand to an elderly person who is struggling.

In thirty seconds you can bend your knees to make eye contact with your child to let them know how much they are loved.

In thirty seconds you can tell you wife or husband how much they mean to you and that if you could marry them all over again you would do it in a heartbeat.

In thirty seconds you can tell your children that of all the children in the world you are thankful that God blessed you with them.

In thirty seconds you can sing a verse of praise to the Lord.

In thirty seconds you can read the story of the crucifixion and learn how much God loves you.

In thirty seconds you can help someone who is less fortunate.

In thirty seconds you can write an email or text expressing gratitude and appreciation.

In thirty seconds you can write a note to encourage a missionary who is doing God’s work in some difficult, lonely place in the world.

In thirty seconds you can tell someone how much God loves them.

In thirty seconds you can call your parent or your child just to say I love you and you are in my thoughts & prayers.

In thirty seconds you can encourage someone who is weak or struggling.

In thirty seconds you can speak to someone at church who others overlook.

In thirty seconds you can be kind to someone who seldom receives kindness.

In thirty seconds you can ask someone to forgive you for the hurt you have brought to their life.

In thirty seconds you can forgive someone who has wronged you whether they have asked you to forgive or not.

In thirty seconds you can make a difference in someones life.

In thirty seconds...

What would you add to the list of good that can done in thirty seconds?

Dear God please help us to use the seconds, the minutes, the hours, the days, and the years of our life to bring glory to You. Help us to encourage someone who is hurting. Help us, Father to realize the great importance of each second of our life. Help us to consider how we treat those around us. Above all, dear Father, please help us to glorify you with every aspect of who we are and to constantly give thanks to You for the Indescribable Gift of Your Son.