The Tim Tebow,-- Denver, Broncos,-- Christianity Situation

It is possible to grow up without any interest in football. Up until four years ago, (at least to me), "football" was synonymous with "afternoon nap". Once that announcer started droning on about flags, kicks, running backs, touch backs, touchdowns and team stats, (oh yeah, quarterbacks)…I was gone,-- out,-- snoring.

Suddenly, while living in the Great State of Wisconsin I found myself hooked on the Packers. Brett Favre. Oh Yeah!! What a player! Okay. So, now here we are in 2011, Brett is gone but the "Pack" lives on. Four years into the whole scene I still don't understand some of the calls made, -- but that's not important to me. As far as I am concerned the score is the bottom line. Watching the guys run back and forth is exciting, and makes me wonder why I didn't appreciate their athleticism when I was younger. Something about being raised in Pennsylvania and going to a High School that didn't have a football team at that time may be partially to blame. (Between you and me, liking afternoon naps is probably the biggest culprit in my football deprived youth).

Now, we shift to a stint in Pueblo, Colorado and the beginning of the football season with Tim Tebow as Quarterback of the Denver Bronco team. First game, not so great, but what do I know. Second, third and fourth, fantastic, with Bronco wins!! (The winning part I understand). What a great player Tebow is turning out to be. A leader of his fellow players, a topic of conversation everywhere! Colorado is fired up about their new Quarterback!

Sooo, uh-ooh... Tim Tebow is a Christian. Suddenly, he is being verbally crucified by non-Bronco fans, Bronco fans, non-Christians, and even Christians for his kneeling in praise while in uniform at the games. Hmm…. He is not stopping the game, facing east and praying, or forcing others to pray with him. He is not in trouble for killing innocent animals, driving while intoxicated, beating his wife and/or former girlfriend, taking drugs, or trying to fit a helmet over a turban.

Nope. He is simply hitting a knee and praising his Lord.

We, as in ALL OF US, do not know about what he is praying. We can imagine it is for a safe game, no loss of limb or life. Perhaps he is praying for personal guidance to play fair, better, (and with no loss of limb or life) for himself and his fellow players. Maybe it's his time to just say Thank You Lord.

It just doesn't matter. Hear that? It just doesn't matter.

The only thing that should matter is that this young man has the 'guts' to take a knee in front of all TV- Land to pray. Christians find themselves shoved around lately by groups of people that seem to want to take away their fundamental beliefs. …. To what end I don't know.

Tim Tebow is not erecting a 30ft. cross in a field for all to pass-by. He is not building his own "mosque-type" structure to go to umpteen times a day to pray. He is not even asking anyone else to share in his seconds-long prayer time. He is simply taking a moment of his OWN life to share a thought with his Lord.

…To all that find this strange… I say, leave him alone. He is a good kid. He has united a team, enlivened a state, refreshed a football game, and bothers no-one with his private moment. Tim Tebow is a citizen of this United States. He chooses to be a football player. He chooses to be a Christian. He chooses to hit his knee, unabashed, unashamed.

Come on People, just leave him alone.