JEFF PEARLMAN

JEFF PEARLMAN

I’m sorry, but God doesn’t care about Deshaun Watson’s torn ACL

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According to a solid 50 athletes who post on Twitter, God is with Deshaun Watson, the Houston Texans’ quarterback whose torn ACL is keeping out the rest of the season.

There was this …

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And this …

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And this …

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And this …

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And tons of other related sentiments. Now, to be clear, I am not bashing the athletes, or even the idea behind the athletes. Watson seems like a wonderful guy, and I can’t imagine anyone (Texan or foe) wishing for his pain. But I’ve never fully understood this idea that God has a plan for each and every one of us. I mean, if God had a plan for Deshaun Watson to recover from his ACL, did he have a plan for the people murdered in New York City yesterday? If God had a plan for Deshaun Watson to recover from his ACL, did he have a plan for passengers on the Titanic? Employees in the World Trade Center? Children born with HIV? With crack addiction? With missing limbs and disfigurements?

Truth be told, whenever I hear of athletes or actors or singers praising all the blessings of God, I always think, “Easy for you to say.” I mean it. It’s easy for Wayne Gallman II, who makes $800,000 to live in New York City and play a game for a living, to say, “Glory be to God!” Were I Wayne Gallman II, I’d probably think God is glorious, too. I’m living large. I’m famous. I’m getting paid, I’m young and handsome and cool.

But does God care about a torn ACL?

Come on …