The Pitch was the name of the 43rd episode of Seinfeld, which aired on September 16, 1992. The plot: After watching Jerry’s comedy routine, NBC executives asked Jerry to come up with an idea for a television show based on his comedy. Jerry and George Costanza brainstormed ideas to pitch to NBC.
George comes up with the idea to pitch “a show about nothing.” From that episode forward, that description knew Seinfeld and the show-about-nothing aired for a total of 9 seasons and 180 episodes. That’s a lot of nothing.
George Costanza actually inspired the circumstances that led to my son Ryan shooting his first buck. We were hunting on land we leased near Albion, in Erie County. Three days of disciplined tree stand hunting had produced nothing. On the last afternoon, we decided to pull what I jokingly referred to as “a Costanza move.”
In the Seinfeld episode The Opposite, perennial loser George experiences great success by doing the opposite of what he would normally do. With just hours left in the hunt, I said to Ryan, “Let’s pull a Costanza move. We’ll hunt exactly the opposite of how we would normally hunt.”
Instead of making the long hike to our well-placed tree stand, we walked about 50 yards from the car and stood in a terrible spot. We weren’t elevated, and we were in thick brush, so we couldn’t see very far. There were no noticeable deer trails. We could still see the car. That’s exactly the opposite of how I hunt. Fifteen minutes into our Costanza stand, a buck appeared 20 yards away, and Ryan made a perfect shot. Go figure.
As a fun project, I decided to use Costanza’s inspiration to write a sermon about nothing for my church family. Doing so would be the exact opposite of my normal.
I did a quick word search about the word nothing. The first Scripture passage suggested was Romans 8:31-39 in the New Living Translation:
What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us? Since he did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won’t he also give us everything else? Who dares accuse us whom God has chosen for his own? No one — for God himself has given us right standing with himself. Who then will condemn us? No one — for Christ Jesus died for us and was raised to life for us, and he is sitting in the place of honor at God’s right hand, pleading for us.
Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? (As the Scriptures say, “For your sake, we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep.”)
No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us. And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow — not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below — indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.
I love that Paul wrote this passage about nothing – because right now, I need it. Maybe you do, too.
What are you going through today? Are there trials and tragedies upending your life? Is some bitter and small person attacking you? Has death stolen loved ones from you? Is your life in financial upheaval? Is fear and worry about the future causing you sleepless nights and rising blood pressure?
If so, then welcome to my world. In the past six weeks, the Hartzells have experienced all of the above. It’s been a tough season — and I’m guessing you might be in a similar season. You are not alone. Paul endured seasons like this, too. You can read about it in II Corinthians 11:24-27. When everything was taken from Paul, he took reassurance in knowing that nothing could ever separate him from the love of God. Nothing.
My friend, I pray that God will use this article to remind us that nothing, absolutely nothing, can ever separate us from God’s love expressed to us through Christ Jesus.
Today, meditate on these words of hope Jesus spoke to His disciples as He prepared them for His death (now that’s a rough season!):
I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. In this world, you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world. John 16:33
And meditate on these words God instructed Moses to tell Joshua as he prepared to lead Israel into the conquering the promised land:
The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Deuteronomy 31:8
Father, I pray for the one reading this article today. They’re in a hard season. The enemy is tempting them to think you have forsaken them, forgotten about them. I pray that you will remind them that nothing can ever separate them from Your love. Nothing. Fill their heart to overflowing with the healing and empowering presence of Your Holy Spirit. Amen.
