There will be days and nights like this. When your heart feels broken in a million pieces, and you can't decide whether to cry in sorrow or in angry disappointment. When you know it's just a game. Just a silly game...but still, you can't help but love, really love that team, so you desperately want them to win. When you feel it all the way down to your bones--your love for the team, for the school, for the place, for the deep friendships born and fostered there, for the children and spouses and sisters and brothers and dear friends with whom you share that cherished bond.
And it's just hard. Yeah sure, I know it's just a basketball game. Yes, it's just a sporting event. And yes, in light of all that's going on this often difficult, dark planet, to get upset over the outcome of a mere sports spectacle might seem superficial and even ridiculous. I know, know, know all that in my head. But my heart, oh my heart hurts. And so do, I'm betting, the hearts of all those who love the school, the place, the team, the family, the friendships. And you still come down to the fact that it's hard to see dreams die and hopes dashed for those you love, enjoy, and respect.
But oh goodness, in the midst of our collective Tar Heel grieving today, there's so much gratitude. So much thankfulness to be a part of this enormously huge, diverse, sometimes crazy family. So much pride in the perseverance and refuse-to-ever-give-up effort of this group of guys.
What a reminder that life is full of ups and downs. Whether it's in sports...or health...or relationships...or finances...or life and death issues that confront all of us. None of us gets out of this thing unscathed. We'll all endure our share of high, glorious mountaintops and deep, discouraging valleys. Until we get to heaven, you can count on it.
And that's one of many great lessons that sports can teach us--you win some, you lose some. You persevere through the happy and the hard. You do your very best...and sometimes, many times, that's not quite enough. And then you can choose how to respond--with thankfulness or bitterness. With good sportsmanship or with grumbling and blame. I confess to my great shame that I initially failed that test last night...well, and at first, this morning too.
But then our great God of grace reminded me to be thankful in all things. To look past the gift of sports to the Giver of all good things, including sports. To be incredibly grateful for the joy of cheering my heart out for this team. For the joy of sharing these games and these moments with the people I love. For the joy of seeing and hearing and watching and feeling and yelling and laughing and crying. For the treasure of emotions--both of feeling great happiness and joy...but also of feeling strong and deep disappointment, even sorrow.
Aren't you glad God didn't make us automatons with no ability to feel? Aren't you thankful we can cry with awe and astonished joy, but also weep with sadness and broken-heartedness? I wouldn't trade either emotion for anything in this universe! If it means I get to experience awe and wonder and joy and astonishment, well then, I'll take the sorrow and discouragement and disappointments of life. And the Lord teaches and shapes and grows us through every single one of them.
So thank You, Father, thank You.
Thank You for the Tar Heels. Thank You for this team. Thank You that we got to enjoy this wild and fun ride. Thank You for family and friends with whom to share it all. Thank You for feelings to experience it all. Thank You for teaching us what it means to persevere in the battles of our daily lives. Thank You for the highs and the lows...and for being with us in the midst of every single one of them. Always and forever.
To God be the glory.
No comments:
Post a Comment