BEARS/PACKERS WEEK - THE FANS!

"Are you giving up cheese until Sunday?" 

That's what my brother asked me last night.  Funny huh?

For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.  - Matthew 5:20

    The Bears / Packers rivalry goes back "uh, hundreds of years" according to Charles Tilman.  But, to him as well as most of the players, it's really just another game against a team that is trying to stop you from getting to Dallas.  But, for the fans, it's much bigger than that.  StubHub.com has said that this game will bring in the most money of any sporting ticket - EVER!  Sure, you can go to the game, if you're willing to give up a mortgage payment or two. 

     And it makes sense.  Bears/Packers has been going on forever.  Fans have had a long time to watch each team beat the other up.  And since we live so close, there's a huge possibility that you have friends or family who wear the Green and Gold.  So, what do you get?  A week of trash-talking (if you really want to have some fun, Google "Packer jokes" - you'd have enough to last you way past the Super Bowl), probably a few wagers, and possibly some vandalism - we don't encourage that.

     That's all fun (except the vandalism) and good, but I think the Bear / Packer rivalry is a great reminder for us all.  Anyone can love those who love them.  Anyone can do good to those who do good to them.  Anyone can be nice to someone who agrees with them and believes in the same thing they do - but what do we do with our "enemies"?  This is just a football game - I get it.  But, unless we can treat the "Packer fans" in our life with love and respect, I would say our righteousness doesn't surpass that of the Pharisees. 

     So, let's give up cheese, let's talk some trash, but after the Bears win, let's not rub it in to Packer fans.