Sports, Athletics & Faith (Part 1) w/ Dr. Nicole Gabana Chiesa

Femininity and masculinity can both find authentic expression through sports

Healthy competition in athletics can foster discipline, humility, perseverance, teamwork, and the pursuit of excellence. Sports also offer an opportunity to practice and learn delayed gratification, sacrifice, and adherence to rules which are virtues that lead to human flourishing

Wounds can arise from sports through idolatry, performance culture, unhealthy comparison, or losing sight of the bigger story beyond the game

Sports rules do not restrict, but rather create the possibility of freedom and meaningful play, much like God’s laws facilitate human flourishing

The identity of athletes can become overly tied to performance and success, leading to struggles or loss of self-worth when results or careers end

Integrating faith and spirituality into sports helps athletes anchor their identity beyond achievement, rooting it in being a beloved child of God

The desire for perfection seen in sports reflects a deeper call toward holiness and striving for spiritual growth

Coaches and mentors play a significant, often formative, role in shaping not just athletic skills, but confidence, character, and motivation

Playfulness and joy in sports are glimpses of the freedom and delight intended for us by God, paralleling receptivity in the spiritual life