Lessons from Lasso — Giving A Little Space

It’s not long into episode five, and we gain more insight into Coach Lasso’s marriage to Michelle and the difficulties that the couple are facing. Lasso shares with the coaching staff that he’s taken this position (some 4,438 miles away) in order to “give a little space” in his marriage to his wife. Giving a little space is sometimes the wisest counsel that a couple, or two individuals with relationship discord can receive. But how do we make that time or moment of “giving a little space” fruitful and intentional? In today’s “Lessons from Lasso,” I look at a couple of passages in the New Testament that speak to creating space around conflict and give steps for addressing issues in a thoughtful way — emotionally and spiritually, especially. While it can be helpful to have physical “space,” merely giving space and thinking that it will help (on its own) to change or transform hurt or pain, well, it’s likely to fall quite a bit short. Ted Lasso, the immensely popular streaming TV show in its second season on Apple TV+ features the antics and quirky, Coach ‘Ted Lasso.’ Lasso first appeared a number of years ago as a comedic character as NBC purchased the broadcast rights to the English Premier League. Played by Jason Sudeikis, Lasso (as a coach) brings change to the difficult football (soccer) team that he has traveled overseas to coach. In the ‘Lessons from Lasso’ series, I (Rev Brad) look at some of the different life learning points brought up in the show from a chaplain’s point of view. From the Touchline is a short-feature (usually 10-15 min) podcast with Rev Brad Kenney, Founder and Executive Director of Soccer Chaplains United and Volunteer Chaplain to the Colorado Rapids of Major League Soccer. Rev Brad and occasional guests touch on various issues around the topics of faith, family, and football (soccer). Also, don’t forget that you can listen in our app, SoccrChapUtd, in the Apple and Google store.