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It is a very good question. Recently, I’ve been wondering what my young friend Max, a good student in a local high school, would do if he were asked to lead a prayer. In my dream, the principal considered withdrawing the invitation when she learned that Max is an atheist, but it was too late.
When he was announced, people stood, awkwardly shuffling their feet as they bowed their heads, not knowing what to expect. Nervous murmurs filled the stadium.
"A prayer," he began, a little nervously, "is an appeal to a source of power. Let us look each other in the eye, as we pray for a better world." The crowd looked around in puzzled silence. "Teachers," you could hear in his voice the strain of a person summoning courage, "when your job seems to demand too much of you, we pray that you always remember that your work is our future. Let that knowledge inspire you to give the extra effort which we will appreciate for the rest of our lives.
"Parents, let us beseech you to remember that everything you are, everything you do, instructs us. We will grow up to be much like you. I appeal to you, please live in a way that will make you proud of us."
Max’s voice, still strong, grew more natural as he turned to his peers. "Fellow students, let us pray to each other for peace. When the passions of our youth push us toward violent protest of unfairness, I appeal to all of us to keep in mind that we have only one life, only one chance to make this world better.
"Members of the local press, as you write about this game, I entreat you to bear in mind that you are writing about boys and girls who need to lead a full life, not about athletes who are put on the field for your entertainment.
"Players and coaches, I implore you to dedicate this game to enjoyment, camaraderie and healthy exercise. No contest is worth breaking a young bone or risking a mind-threatening concussion.
"Cheerleaders, I invoke you to be true leaders of good cheer and good sportsmanship, and never give into the temptation of yelling against the other team, rather than for your own.
"I ask that we all watch this contest, not for the thrill of competition or the excitement of violence, but to admire the beauty of individual dedication and the wonder of a human team working as one toward a common goal.
"I pray to all of us to recognize that any god or gods which might exist have no interest in this game, and have shown no inclination to protect us from our own mistakes.
"I invoke each of you to live your life as if it is your only one, to meet each problem as if you are the power most likely to solve it.
"I ask the school administrators, if you must continue to open these games with an invocation, lead the way in demanding of ourselves the best, rather than appealing to gods who do not show the same face to all of us.
"In that spirit, let us get on with the game."
There was a collective, thoughtful sigh. By making us all responsible for our own actions, my young friend Max had found a way to solemnize a football game.
But it was only a dream.