This is a great time of year for one thing, football. Specifically Alabama football. I love Alabama football. I try to watch every game. I read multiple news stories about the team during the week. I try to go to at least one game a year. I will carry on multiple conversations with friends during the week about last weeks game, how a player performed, who's going to win the next game....on and on and on. Some screaming and yelling is directed at the tv, either when things are going good or bad(pleading the 5th here). This is probably no different from any other Alabama fan. The thing is, this year, with football excitement in the air, I see things a little differently.

How, you might ask? Well, let me use an example the speaker used at my small group meeting last Sunday. We all the know the game of Jenga. Tower of blocks that get removed from the bottom and stacked on top until the tower falls. Okay, imagine that Jenga tower is the foundation of my spiritual life. As long as I read my bible daily, pray daily, go to church and get good teaching the foundation is strong. What happens when I start reading more articles on the internet about Alabama football than reading my bible? I start moving blocks from the bottom of that Jenga tower to the top. What happens when I am so enthralled with a game that I yell at my kids for interrupting? I move another block. What happens when I go to a game, get home late and decide to sleep in on Sunday instead of going to church? I move another block. What happens when I know more and can talk more about Alabama football than I can about the Bible? I move another block. By now I have so many holes in my spiritual foundation that I'm going to fall.

It hit me today like a ton of bricks; that Jenga tower has been me every football season. I have yelled at my kids, sacrificed family time, fought with my wife and neglected the most important thing, God. I could talk for hours about Alabama football, but not about the Bible. I've missed church because of football. I've neglected my quiet time, prayer and Bible reading because of football. My spiritual tower would fall every year and have to be rebuilt. Why? Does Alabama football really matter when compared to my walk with God or wonderful wife and kids?

Now don't get me wrong, I still love Alabama football. Always will. I'm not saying I have to give up my love for Alabama football or am I passing judgement on anyone else but myself. What I do have to do is remember what's important and that's my walk with God and my family. I shouldn't sacrifice my walk or my family for something that ultimately does not matter. It all comes down to passion, because I will seek out what I am passionate about. What am I passionate about? God or Alabama football?