GOAL TO GO
The Spiritual Lessons of Football

Football is often considered a “religion,” but seldom do we hear of the very real spiritual aspects of the game. Football is a wonderful source of Christian symbolism and allegory, as it reflects many of the struggles we face in our spiritual lives: the need for constant conversions, the presence of opposing forces and the setbacks they cause, the need for a “playbook” and the wisdom it gives us, our dependence on our “Quarterback” and the constant need to “huddle” with Him, and our fears of being overcome by our opponents, just to name a few. Goal to Go draws upon the imagery and metaphors of football to discuss Christian faith. In addition to the above, topics covered include: accepting the presence of evil with Christian love, the significance of Baptism and Eucharist, carrying our own crosses, the sacredness of humility, faithfulness in times of trouble, the vocations crisis, criticizing others, letting go of the past, the power of the Holy Spirit, “ordinariness” in the spiritual life, respect for the elderly, the strength afforded by faith, the courage to be “different” from the world, and the promise of eternal life. With many quotations from scripture and spiritual writers, Goal to Go makes football a truly religious experience, and will be a welcome addition to the library of any fan.

About the Author: James Penrice, a graduate of the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor and life-long Detroit Tiger fan, grew up in Plymouth, Michigan. Married and the father of three children, he is the Director of Religious Education at St. Mary’s Parish in Spring Lake, Michigan. Mr. Penrice has written several other Alba House titles: Crossing Home: The Spiritual Lessons of Baseball (1993), If There Is A God, Why Do I Need Braces?: An Adolescent Journey to Adult Faith (1995), and God Could Be A Teen... No One Understands Him, Either: The Truth and Freedom of Catholic Morality (1997), and You Know More Than You Think: Your Intuitive Knowledge of God in the Catholic Tradition (2003).