The Final Game

I noticed...the three of us were holding our breaths as we watched my son's high school's football game. It was the final game for the championship reserved for the area where we lived. Their football team hasn't lost.
There were 4 interceptions sad to say. We were wondering why the team seemed unsure of their tactics. They made the touchdown at the beginning of 1st quarter, the ball they intercepted from their opponent. It made the crowd go "gaga". Their quarterback and one of the players were famous because of their great performance. In each game.

Score was flashed on the screen as their game was televised. 

30-22.

My son's high school was on the losing end. But they were known for making it. To even win...Yes. Even to the last minute left on that ticking clock. Would they be able to pull it off again this time?

A minute and few seconds left. With the ball on their hands, the favorite player made it to the goal line.

Touchdown!!!

The roar from where the audience was deafening.

And so from my couch where I couldn't help but yell "Go get 'em!!!" as I clapped my hands until they became numb.

My husband laughed. So did my son.

They knew I didn't even like football. There I was yelling as if I understood the whole game. I didn't. I understood. Only at that moment. While watching.

I knew that if the team opted for the pass instead of punt, they could get that 2 points and that would make the game a "tie". It was a risk worth taking. And the risk they took. The favorite player was again on the goal line as the ball seemed like it slowly got passed all the way to his direction. 2 opponents guarded him with their lives. As he fell on the ground, time seemed it froze. With all the eyes hooked on his arms. To see if he clung to the ball up to the end. But the opponent had pushed him so hard. That when he landed, to everyone's dismay. The ball was on the ground.

Time was up. Final score: 30-28. All heads from my son's high school football team bowed low. Even me. I could feel the adrenaline still rushing. To know that it was so close...To making it a tie. Even to win. Knowing how great their coach was and the team.

"Don't change the channel yet," I requested to my husband.

"But it's over."

"Let us just see the players that will be interviewed."

And of course, as expected, the network interviewed that favorite player.

"How do you feel about that? It was so close and you almost made it in making the score a tie!" as the lady put the mic in front of him.

Without hesitation, he quickly replied, "We shouldn't be mad. This is just how it is. We win. We lose. We just keep on trying our best in every game."

This Sunday morning, I woke up early in the morning as if I was hearing those words still. It touched me as on and off, my battle with work would come back to memory. The help I had been expecting didn't make it. I lost. So close.  Except my game was not fair from the start. It made me sad and at times, I felt down to know that injustices were rampant anywhere. My work. The government agencies. I saw laziness. I saw irresponsibility.

This morning, my soul was stirred again by the rogue waves of discrimination and the broken barrier that never protected me. Surely, that young man, the favorite player was right.

I shouldn't get mad. In this life's journey, I could win. I could lose. For as a Christian soldier, in every step I would take, crosses would be laid out on my path. And as my Coach, Christ, suffered first and even died for me, I must take up that cross and carry it because of Him. For the rest of my body would not be happy if something wouldn't be well with my soul. But my soul could be happy and joyful despite being afflicted. Despite losing a game. Despite losing my job. Despite an illness. Even when facing death. As a Christian, it is right to count all things a loss and rejoice in knowing Christ Jesus.

Yes...what is the advantage if we have all this world yet lose our soul?

There may be more crosses along the way...But with Christ...It is well...

With my soul...

    When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
    When sorrows like sea billows roll;
    Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say,
    It is well, it is well, with my soul. - It Is Well With My Soul (Horatio Spafford)
       
  
 What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit his very self? - Luke 9:25 (NIV)

(FYI: Those players had so many offers from famous colleges to make them attend their schools. The last time I worked, there were so many problems that many of my co-workers were stressing out regarding their schedules. For that, I was grateful that the Lord saved me from all that troubles...Glory be to God!!!)