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April 27, 2020 - Join Pastor John for a Daily Devotional

April 27, 2020 by Rev. John Hartman

“Super Committed”

In tuning into sports talk radio as I drive back and forth to church during the week, it’s fascinating to listen to what various professional leagues and colleges are going to do in moving forward. To play or not play the games? And if they do, should they play them without fans in the stands? A big part of the college football experience are the fans! It’s what makes the home team so formidable, because it is so hard to win on the road, when all the fans are against you. If there aren’t going to be fans at various venues, it is certainly going to look and feel very different.

I heard a story about Giles Pellerin, who was known as the “Super Fan.” In 1926, he fell in love with the University of California Trojans football team, -- and over the next 72 years, Mr. Pellerin didn’t miss a single game, either home or away! Over that 72 year span Pellerin watched USC play 797 games in 75 different stadiums in more than 50 cities, – from Lincoln, Nebraska to Tokyo, Japan. He estimated that he logged somewhere near 700,000 miles traveling to games and spent in the neighborhood of $100,000 following his beloved USC Trojans. During those 72 years, Giles Pellerin witnessed all eight of USC’s National Championships. He saw each of the school’s 120 first-team All Americans, and watched 4 Heisman Trophy winners emerge. Pellerin even outlasted 11 different coaches! Even illness couldn’t slow him down. After a game against Penn State in 1993, Pellerin ruptured his aorta and had to be rushed to the hospital. Even though he was hospitalized for 13 days, USC just happened to have a bye week and weren’t scheduled to play. So, even a stay in ICU couldn’t break his amazing streak. But as they say, all good things must eventually come to an end. For Giles Pellerin, the streak ended in 1998. Following a USC game in the Rose Bowl, Pellerin collapsed in the stadium parking lot and died at the age of 91, leaving behind a record that may never be broken. But, you know what is really amazing? If you look hard enough, you will find a lot of Giles Pellerins in the world. If you look hard enough, you’ll probably find any number of people who have committed their lives to one thing or another.

I am so thankful for your commitment to Chestnut Level Presbyterian Church. It has made all the difference to me, the staff, and for all the ministries that we continue to support. The Bible says, “And may your hearts be fully committed to the LORD our God, to live by his decrees and obey his commands, as at this time” (I Kings 8:61). Let’s be more than “super fans.” Instead, let’s be “super faithful!” And, let’s keep our own streak going of love and commitment to Jesus Christ and His Church at Chestnut Level.