Basketball
Our son just finished a wonderful basketball season. His team was very good and his coach was great. It was such a blessing to our son, because he really didn’t love basketball at the start. I sort of had to strongly encourage (i.e. force, ahem) him to play. He’s very good at soccer, but basketball was a tougher sport for him. Considering how good some of the boys on his team were, he was incredibly intimidated (although he would never readily admit that). At the beginning of the season, he was lucky to play a couple of minutes in each game. But by the end of the season, he was in for a lot more time. We couldn’t be more proud of him!
They had an undefeated season until the other night, which was a championship game. They had never gone against a team that could give them a run for their money, but clearly that game was different. It was neck and neck for a while, and then the other team pulled away and had a 10 point lead by the 3rd quarter (or around there, I’m so terrible remembering these things). Miraculously, our team closed the gap and ended the game tied.
So overtime started, and we eventually took the lead. One second on the clock, and the score was 44-42. But they had possession of the ball on their side of the court. From the sideline, their player quickly passed the ball in and he chucked it towards the basket and made it in. It was truly an unbelievable shot. The crowd went wild, and our team was shocked. So close, yet so far away.
Losing well whenever it happens
I tell you this story because I realized how important it is to lose well. This reminded me how there are a lot of people who have tried to portray the Christian walk as a series of wins. We believe in Jesus and our lives will all be better, right? But then, real life happens and we quickly realize, winning isn’t always a part of it. Winning isn’t really the point. It’s great when it happens (and it does!), but that’s not the point.
The boys were obviously devastated and crying. I was actually surprised to see my son right there, bawling his eyes out too. He was lucky enough to get in the game, but it was such an intense game, we knew he wouldn’t get a ton of time in. And considering how he felt about basketball at the beginning of the season, I thought he’d be sad but not quite so emotionally upset, talking about the injustice of it all.
Losing is just a part of life, for everyone. Even when it’s not fair or when it doesn’t make any sense. I’m not sure where I first heard this saying, but it’s so appropriate: We can either win or learn. Some may choose to lose and just give up. But others will choose to learn and get back up again.
Charlie
I can’t help but think about Charlie Kirk. I still don’t understand why the LORD took him away from us. His martyrdom was such a huge loss on so many different levels. But then there was hope, since right after Charlie’s death, it seemed as if there may be a revival. Fast forward a few months, and it’s just dissension and chaos. Several people who seemed to be like-minded just a few months ago have chosen to say and do things that are beyond comprehension. It sure feels as if we’re losing in many ways.
But one thing I know, is that God’s ways are not my ways. I wouldn’t have chosen this path for our country and our world. However, in God’s providence, He allowed this to happen for His ultimate glory and our ultimate good.
What’s the point?
It’s easy to want to curl up in a ball and just give up. What’s the point? Our son announced to me shortly after the game that he hates basketball and won’t ever play again. LORD help me. It sounds funny now in hindsight, but if you think about it, we’re not all that unlike him. We’re knocked on our behinds and just want to give up.
The LORD never promised us that life would be fair or that we would always win. There are so many saints who have gone before us who had extremely unfair things happen to them. Unbroken is an incredible example of this. It was not fair that Louie Zamperini wasn’t able to compete in the Olympics after the war broke out. Although Zamperini survived an insane plane crash, he became a POW. Not exactly the “win” he hoped for. While he was in the POW camp, he was picked on mercilessly because he was an incredible athlete. And it most definitely was unjust that his tormentor lived a fairly normal life after the war, never repenting of what he did to Louie and those POW’s during the war.
However, it’s amazing how the LORD continued to use Zamperini. God did close a few doors, but He opened others. The LORD allowed Zamperini to be broken, but then He made him strong in the LORD. A different kind of warrior. One for the kingdom of God.
God’s design
Clearly God’s design for us is different than always winning. He wants us to be righteous and holy, because He is holy (1 Peter 1:16). And we learn that from sometimes winning, often losing, and everything in between.
I don’t understand why difficult things happen. If it’s not a basketball game, it’s a cancer diagnosis, or a life snuffed out too soon. Huge differences in these examples, but the point is the same. We live in a broken world. But God! He is our redeemer. He is the giver of every good and perfect gift (James 1:17), even when we don’t agree or understand. I pray we all learn to either win for the glory of God or learn for our good and His glory.
Amen?
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