Parakalein

The New York Giants won the Superbowl 21-17 over the New England Patriots.  It was a tough loss and a tough win, but a great game.

So this morning, the morning after I was musing about the fumbling mistakes and the miraculous moves of both teams.  I watched the game with a good friend who is a Giants fan having spent a lot of his life in the NYC/NJ metropolis.  I on the other hand grew up just outside of Boston, and remember youth group activities of cleaning up after the game or rather after the fans who were at the game in Foxboro.  We both watched as our respective teams and individual players did some stupid things and make some amazing passes, tackles, receptions, and defensive moves.  In the end because we have to have a winner, we keep score of points scored not fumbles made, and we keep the clock.  The score keeper and the time keeper are big parts of what we as humans do to the game.

I mused how like life this game was.  We all make mistakes have some great moments and some really dumb moments  We often stumble and fall and sometimes get really hurt.  We often stand tall and let go of hurt and forgive ourselves and those who hurt us.  We make great catches of people in need (compassion).  We keep cool (calmness) under intense pressure and just do our best even if it is not superior.  Perhaps this is why Paul the Apostle said, "Love keeps no score of rights or wrongs".  With grace and forgiveness there is no "score keeper".  In the game of life we all make mistakes, fumble opportunities, miss opportunities, and do "wonderful acts of kindness and compassion".  God has set up a win win situation, where we are invited to live under the oppression of the "score keeper" or "time keeper" but raised up to the acceptation of Love and Grace.

Life is a game but it is not about keeping score or how much time you have to live, it is about that you play the game, that you are in the game, that you are giving your best, and that whatever happens you hold your head up high and thank God that you were in the game.  106 football players and the coaches and owners and fans need to hold their heads up high this morning that they were in this great game.  It is not about "superbowl rings" as much as many think it is, it is about being in "the ring of fire" and coming out a better not best.

With God there are no losers just winners.  There are no rings, just a "well done" enter into happiness for the game is over.

A fan of life! I am.