Nick Foles. Hardly a household name. That’s until his heroic performance in last year’s Super Bowl. Subbing for injured quarterback Carson Wentz … not having thrown a pass in a game all season, Foles lead his underdog Philadelphia Eagles to an inspiring victory over the perennial champion New England Patriots. Devastating my 12 yr old grandson, Jake … an avid Pats fan.

This Christmas and for the last twenty I’ve written a letter to my family. Meditating a week before Christmas, Foles’ name came to me.  Not because he won the game. But because when he took the podium to accept the Super Bowl trophy, “I owe this all to the glory of God and my lord and savior, Jesus Christ.” I wanted to write a message to my family about faith and God’s love for all of us.

Ok. But get this. Three days after writing this year’s letter, my daughter informs me that my grandchildren in CT (15 yr. old triplets!) had asked for Nick’s book, Believe It for Christmas. On Christmas Eve my wife gave me Men of Pray, the story behind the Eagles Super Bowl win. No one knew the theme of this year’s Christmas letter was centered on the Eagles incredible win.I read Men of Pray cover to cover Christmas morning. A story of faith and a commitment to God that unknown to me had underpinned the entire Eagle experience. An incredible foreword written by Carson Wentz relating how the entire team … not just Nick Foles had drawn on their faith to win last February. I was not aware before reading Men of Pray that this was so.

A series of disconnected “coincidences?” My letter? My grandchildren’s book request? My receiving the book Christmas Eve? Coincidental? Probably not. I believe in energy connections … not coincidences. I emailed a friend for lunch yesterday. He emailed back, “Funny, I was just thinking about you.” Was thinking about going out with my grandson … just the two of us. Had never done it. He texted me the next day, “PopPop, could you and I go to the Varsity…  (legendary Atlanta eatery). “My friends say its really good.”Coincidences? Probably not.It’s no coincidence the Eagles continue to win big games no one believes they can. Let their faith … our faith be our guide.