Ted Lasso

Ted Lasso is an amazing series, and it is one that has forced me to have both a discerning mind and an open heart.
 
I say “discerning mind” because I am under no illusion regarding the secular worldview through which it was written and produced. There are numerous behaviors, ideals, and misrepresentations that do not align with a Christian vision. 
 
At the same time, the show does not seem like mere “woke propaganda.” It seems rather like the people behind this story simply believe they have found a good and honest way to wrestle with the human experience. I say “open heart,” then, because, in their effort to grapple with the human condition and make sense of things, they have stumbled upon realities that transcend our world and invite us toward a higher one. For this reason, I believe their characters still have lessons to offer a Christian audience. Indeed, millions throughout the world can testify to the power of this award-winning series. We have seen the Lord in this story!
 
How much more, then, if this story flowed from minds and hearts given over to Christ? Meaning, what if people’s creativity and passion burst forth from an intimate relationship with their Creator? What if it was the fruit of their prayer and a deliberate participation in the Great Story? Is this too much to ask? I don’t think so. At Easter Masses around the world, this is precisely the petition.
 
Of those asking for baptism, the Church, every year at the Easter Vigil Mass, asks that they renounce sin and profess the faith. To the following they say “I do.”
 
Do you reject sin so as to live in the freedom of God’s children? Do you reject the glamour of evil and refuse to be mastered by sin? Do you reject Satan, father of sin and prince of darkness? Do you believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth? Do you believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was born of the Virgin Mary, was crucified, died and was buried, rose from the dead, and is now seated at the right hand of the Father? Do you believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body and life everlasting? 
 
There is sin and evil and darkness in this world. We must reject it. But because God so loved the world, He sent His only Son to dwell among creation and redeem it! There are signs of life everywhere, and we need to ask for the grace of baptism to recognize those signs and to be partakers in what they promise. 
 
For the Christian viewer of Ted Lasso, the invitation is similar. Through the following scenes from Season 3, I seek to affirm the instances where goodness is present because it is exactly these scenes which, if baptized, draw us toward our destiny and our end.
 
In Episode 5 (“Signs”), the iconic “Believe” sign taped above the door to Ted’s office falls off just as the team is on the precipice of despair. Disturbing timing, of course. But, instead of feeding a superstition vested in the power of a sheet of paper, Ted reminds the team that “belief doesn't just happen because you hang something on a wall.” In an incredibly raw and heartfelt speech, he simultaneously captures the essence of our human frailty and our profound dignity. Here it is:
 
“Belief… comes from in here [he points to his heart], and up here [his head] and down here [his gut]. The only problem is, we’ve all got so much junk floatin’ through us, a lot of times we end up gettin’ in our own way. Crap like envy, or fear — shame. I don’t wanna mess around with that s*** anymore. You know what I wanna mess around with? The belief that I matter, you know, regardless of what I do or don’t achieve. Or the belief that we all deserve to be loved, whether we’ve been hurt or maybe we’ve hurt somebody else. Or what about the belief of hope? Yeah, that’s what I want to mess with. Believing that things can get better — that I can get better. That we will get better. Oh man. To believe in yourself, to believe in one another — man that’s, that’s fundamental to being alive. And look, yo, hey, if you can do that — if each of you can truly do that — can’t nobody rip that apart.” 
 
Ted, as usual, displays an impressive ability to get right to the heart of things. These words especially draw near to the kingdom of heaven. However, Ted still needs baptism.
 
Tell me if this cycle sounds familiar: you resolve (very firmly!) to leave behind the junk floating through you that gets in your way. You begin again, believe that you matter and that you can get better, that you’re good, and that you deserve to be loved. But then, at some point, potentially rather quickly, you fall right back into envy, fear, shame, etc. 
 
Thus, the pattern is, no matter how hard we try, we can’t shake the junk. There are so many moments where we simply cannot make it happen on our own, even with the best of intentions and the best of friends. We need a savior!
 
“Or are you unaware that we who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were indeed buried with him through baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might live in newness of life” (Romans 6:3-4). The only possibility for Ted or any one of us to obtain and maintain the newness of life we seek is to be joined to our savior in baptism.
 
In the episode following Ted’s speech, “Sunflowers,” we see just how promptly hope can once again vanish for those who have not yet been raised to this newness of life. After a jarring AFC Richmond loss, Ted expresses his lament to Coach Beard. 
 
“I don't know what’s going on with me coach. It’s like I’m feeling stuck or something you know. Like I need to do something to help me get me out of my head… You know, I just wanna try something new. Help me get inspired.” 
 
Beard immediately suggests drugs as the remedy. Ted uses them (a dud batch as it turns out), settling for far too little in his desperation for consolation, inspiration, and restoration. It is encouraging, however, that he has the humility to admit something is not working, for the Lord draws near to those in need. Likely, if Ted had sat with this ache for just a few minutes longer, he would have heard the still, small voice of the Divine Physician asking permission to bring him new life. That is, after all, why He has come.
 
We can be certain then, that for those who have ears to hear, Christ will speak. To those with the eyes of faith, He will reveal His presence. He invites each one of us to join Him through baptism so that we might join Him also in His resurrection. This invitation to new life is for Ted and all the other fictional characters in the series, but it is most especially for you and for me. May this Easter season be filled with festivity and joy as we celebrate this life and anticipate the next.
 
Brennan Garriques serves as the Director of Campus Ministry at Christ the King Parish on the campus of LSU in Baton Rouge, LA.