Yesterday, or sometime in the last couple of weeks, depending on when this essay goes to print, marked the fifth anniversary of one of the most incredible phenomenon that has ever taken place in world futbol. Five years ago, in a game versus Wolfsberg, a player by the name of Robert Lewandowski scored five goals in a matter of nine minutes. His first goal came on his third touch of the game. But this incredible feat is marked by an array of equally fantastic stats. At the time of his first goal, Bayern was trailing one to zero. He had recently been subbed into the game. Over the course of nine minutes, three of the five goals were scored with a single touch. He hit the post once, the goal keeper once, and put one in the back of the net. That all took place in a matter of seconds. His second goal was shot from almost 30 yards out. His fourth was a half volley. His fifth was a full volley. On his fifth goal, the goal keeper didn't even move. The game ended 5-1. Wolfsberg: one, Lewandowski: five. If you you have not seen the highlights from this event, I highly recommend them:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oRZFvSPJBzU
My favorite comment that followed was this: "Geez, you go to the bathroom and you miss every goal he scored..."
I tell you all this because today's conversation is about the concept of momentum. Over the course of nine minutes, Lewandowski accumulated so much momentum that one could surmise that near the end of his run, he couldn't go anything but score. It was as if everything he touched turned to gold. The final goal, the most brilliant, and most audacious of them all, is nothing short of miraculous. It is inexplicable by all measures save the fact that those nine minutes rose to a crescendo of glory that could only be culminated in something superhuman. In other words, his momentum had carried him well beyond the feats of normal futbol. It had carried him into a moment of transcendence; it had carried him into "the zone".
But this is how momentum works. A car that is rolling is easier to push. An idea that gains steam is easier to make manifest. Starting something from nothing is difficult (if even possible), but developing something that has already begun is a far easier task. And this is true both mentally and physically. Each a necessary component of development.
If we return to that final goal: Lewandowski is not a boy who has just wondered in out of the school yard. He is a trained professional with years of hard work to his name. But in that regard, he is a dime a dozen. No one goes pro without the investment of decades of hard work. But this moment is unique. Something transpires that can't be explained by his dedication and effort. This moment builds upon itself into something truly unique. It becomes something that we might never witness again. And the goals prove it. The first two are a little lucky. (Right time, right place, left corner) The third is gritty. And the last two are simply perfect. Why? Well because with a little luck and a little grit comes a great deal of confidence. All doubts pushed aside, in the final moments of this run, we can only assume that Lewandowsky simply thought that he couldn't do anything but score (if he thought at all. It might have been a moment of pure clarity...)
This is why momentum is important: in big moments you have the confidence and the energy to achieve greatness.
Although this next series of events is not necessarily comparable, and in no way am I trying to equate one to the other, each fascinatingly follows a similar principle.
In the Gospel of John, Jesus performs seven miracles, or executes seven signs, designed to reveal to those who can see that He is the Christ. The nature of these signs are interesting in their development as they mirror the courage and audacity with which Christ approaches His ministry. If we start from the beginning, we first see Christ at a wedding with His buddies, somewhat reluctantly adhering to Mary's request to deal with the fact that the host has run out of wine. Probably quite differently from Lewandowski's first goal, Jesus knows this moment is coming. Furthermore, there is hesitation to kick start what He knows will become an inevitable momentum leading toward His eventual sacrifice. Nonetheless, He recognizes that the moment has arrived and He proceeds accordingly. The next two signs are signs of healing, and they are subtle in their manner. He heals the son of a Roman official (someone He knows isn't going to run off and tell everyone that Jesus is the Christ) and He heals the man near the baths (a somewhat more risky prospect, but one that can easily be explained away by the previous healing nature of the baths, and the credibility of the one healed.) But as the signs develop, so does the momentum, and so does Jesus' willingness to stand out. So much so that He later multiplies the loaves, walks on water, and challenges the very foundation of Jewish thought. (The bread of life discourse). And it doesn't end there. He performs another healing. Only this time, He heals the eyes of a blind man that He knows will be brought before the Sanhedrin, and culminates these miracles with the raising of Lazarus from the dead. A sign that foreshadows His own resurrection, but also one that confirms its possibility.
As noted, the theme here ultimately remains the same: The Gospel of John demonstrates the momentum that builds toward the passion. Over time, Jesus reveals Himself to be the messiah, but He also amasses the confidence that allows Him to do what needs to be done. We have to believe that Jesus was free in the moments that led up to His death, and therefore we have to acknowledge that He could have walked away. He was not required to sacrifice Himself. If that had been the case, then it would have not been an act of love. Love requires freewill. And thus, the Gospel of John is also a story of momentum. Jesus is prepared for the moment in which He would have to carry His cross up the Mountain of the Skull because His courage and His faith assured Him that He was ready. There was no turning back, but not because He couldn't but rather because He had established Himself in the task at hand. In that moment, it was as if He could not do anything else but save us.
As we charge through this global pandemic, I believe that there is something to learn from all of this. Though 2020 has been a roller coaster, and amidst the ups and downs it has been difficult to generate momentum, we can not stop trying. Momentum has become essential to our survival. It is absolutely necessary that we find something that helps us to move forward. We need to establish a goal (a measurable one) and we need to commit to it daily, hitting checkpoints along the way. Lewandowsky did not waste those nine minutes. He built them into greatness. And Christ did not waste those years of His ministry. He changed the world with them. And in the same way, we can not waste this time. Eventually, this will be over, and we will move on, and we must have something to show for it. Something that prepares us for whatever is coming next. Something that assures us that when the moment comes, we will not do anything but persevere. So set a goal. Dedicate yourself to a task. Use this time to push forward so that you can know you will look back having accomplished something spectacular.
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