Thoughts About The Series
When we finished watching the series Ted Lasso we both put some thoughts together.
First— this series portrays the generation God’s enabling us to serve.
Maybe few of us will be serving the rich and famous, the athletes and entrepreneurs in Ted Lesso. But, we can serve people a cup of cold water, especially the thirsty ones who are living with the fall-out from their own, or other people’s choices:
“Taking on a challenge is a lot like riding a horse, isn’t it? If you’re comfortable while you’re doing it, you’re probably doing it wrong.” ~ Ted-Lassoisms
There’s nothing new in Ted Lasso’s world that would have surprised Paul. Well, maybe the internet would have caught him off guard.
We Know These Folks!
All those characters in the series are like the folks we know and love — many of whom have not returned to their places of worship.*
How do we offer that cup of cold water?
Like the man once said, “Sometimes you gotta leave space to let God walk into the room.” Lassoism
Leaving room, according to Ted, can begin with just being interested in another, and not judgmental.
Whew . . . judging and pigeonholing is so much easier!
Throughout this series, especially in some dialogues in the third series I heard pain and truth that faintly echoed Scripture’s words
I hope that either all of us or none of us are judged by the actions of our weakest moments but rather by the strength we show when and if we’re ever given a second chance. -Ted Lasso
The God of Second Chances
My God is the God of second chances. He is the strength. I wish He had had the credit for being the hope that anchored the yellow “BELIEVE” sign over the coach’s office.
Finally:
Doug reflected:
August 1, 2023. Barbara and I just finished watching three seasons of Apple TV’s Ted Lasso. In Ted the writers offer us the picture of a gentle self-sacrificing rugby football coach who responds to disrespect – even contempt – with quiet perseverance, looking to the best interests of those who try to humiliate him. Ultimately his humble persistent behavior toward his hateful critics transforms many and makes winners out of his formerly sorry and bitter football players and nourishes a spirit of love among them.
However, there is a price to pay for enjoying Ted’s story, seeing his positive and transforming effect on those around him. Wave after wave of crushing vulgarity submerges the audience in what I hope is a parody of our contemporary culture while the light of Ted’s spirit provides the only relief. Can any human being accomplish what Ted accomplishes in this cistern of crudity? I would say that only one person with that cleansing influence has ever walked the earth and he isn’t a sports coach.
TIP: Pick Old Photos to look YOUNGER
“You know how they say that ‘youth is wasted on the young’? Well, I say don’t let the wisdom of age be wasted on you. I just came up with that. I feel pretty good about it.” Twenty Best Ted Lasso quotes
*Why Falling Religious Attendance Could Be Increasing Deaths of Despair
PS: A Recent NYT Opinion Piece worth reading — Why America Disparately Needed Ted Lasso ~Margaret Renkl