U.S.A. vs. Germany

Taking the train through the countryside of Germany brought up some nostalgic emotions as it was the first time in my life that I was in the country of my grandfather’s origin. It was the first time physically being in touch with a part of me that I rarely think about.

As an American, most of my generation are “Mutts.” That is, we are a mix of many nationalities. So, although I am 75% Irish and only 25% German, my last name, Illig, is German. I am proud to say that it originates from Germany.

Having said that, I am an American citizen. And I am proud and not ashamed of that as well.

All these thoughts and emotions surfaced when attending the U.S.A. vs. Germany International Friendly Soccer Match in Cologne, Germany. Sitting in a country of my origin while proudly watching the team of my citizenship, I realized once again how sports can make visible what often lies below the surface of our lives. In this case, who am I?

Throughout my professional baseball career, I wrestled with this question as I began to see myself as more than just an athlete. So, in this same spirit, I watched a great match between two countries, which formed my identity with a sense of pride and contentment.

Both circumstances remind me that my role or nationality does not define me. They are a part of who I am and a necessary part of my journey to develop, not a definition of my deepest being.

My deepest identity lies within the One who created me. It is here that I have found freedom and peace.

And I have sports to thank for helping me come to see this.

“Perhaps the greatest insanity of life is that we never awaken to the reason we were born.  At the beginning of The Divine Comedy, Dante finds himself in a dark wood and doesn’t know how he got there. He awakens to the shocking realization that he has been sleepwalking through life.”
-Marc Foley, O.C.D.

**One side note: Living in Switzerland must be taking its toll, as this scarf pretty much summed up my feelings about watching the game: Neutral!