I love this expression, being that I am a huge football fan. When our favorite football team loses on a Sunday, we read the write-up in the news. “If only the quarterback hadn’t thrown that interception.” During this off-season for football, at least we have college spring games to tie us over. Did you know that the University of Nebraska Cornhuskers spring game drew an attendance of 85,000! Granted, it is mostly because of the new, popular, ex-quarterback they hired as their head coach. A big event for the state of Nebraska, it was. There was also the NFL draft this past weekend. There is a LOT of “Monday morning quarterbacking” going on. “They took WHO?!? But they needed so-and-so!”

“Monday morning quarterbacking” certainly applies to pastors, as well as choir directors, organists, usher team captains, assisting ministers . . .   We analyze what went wrong, where we goofed up. “Boy, I sure hit a lot of wrong notes.” “My sermon was a real stinker.” “We were so delayed getting the communion brought up.” I am the king, the “poster child” for beating oneself up over mistakes or omissions. (Don’t even get me started on announcements I fail to make!) It’s the “paralysis of analysis.” It can make you want to do a “Charlie Brown” – draw the curtains and curl up in bed in the fetal position. We feel sorry for ourselves. We suppress, not wanting to burden anyone. So our inner, critical child becomes more depressed and angry. We face choices, make decisions every day. As we get older, we more often ask ourselves, “Why did I do that? What was I thinking? Was I thinking at all?” Ah yes – our stinkin’ thinkin’.   It is a mantra used by those in recovery. “You’ve got to change your stinkin’ thinkin’.”

We can, and should, take great joy and delight that in spite of all the berating and “Monday morning quarterbacking” we engage in, our God still believes in us. The rag-tag, mismatched twelve that he chose seemingly at random bear strong witness to what Jesus can accomplish through those who simply follow. Mistakes will be made, wrong notes played, questionable choices reconciled with. Praise and give thanks to the One who loves you unconditionally.

Pastor Art