Terrell Owens Believed He Would Play

[Disclaimer: I have never been a Terrell Owens fan. I think he is often selfish and immature.]



Going into Super Bowl XXXIX, few believed Terrell Owens could come back from serious ankle surgery in only 6 1/2 weeks, but he had faith that he could. "A lot of people in the world didn't believe I could play, but my faith alone - the power of prayer and the power of faith carried me all the way," Owens said.



Owens' recovery is remarkable. He did not simply play -- he caught 9 passes for 122 yards. Even his doctors did not believe he could play in the big game, no matter how badly he wanted it.



It must be noted that Owens is an exceptional athlete. His physical conditioning and preparation no doubt helped him in his recovery. But the "X factor" may just be the faith he mentions.



Numerous studies have shown that mental and emotional outlook play a significant role in the healing process. Other studies have shown that prayer can aid in the healing process, even when the subject is completely unaware that s/he is being prayed for. Science can explain how emotions effect healing, but not how prayer works in the same way.



In an Integral model, healing transcends the purely physical processes. Emotion, thought, cultural beliefs, and even social structures (such as a society where sports stars are highly valued and receive the best treatments) all play a role in the healing process.



For Owens, his faith may have helped him recover faster. No matter what helped him heal so quickly, the fact is that he did. He said he would play in the big game, and he did. Owens offends a lot people with his antics, but no one can doubt his faith in his skills.