I’m a Clemson Tiger. My blood runneth
Orange. And when it comes to my team, I’m all in . . . all the
time.
But sweet mercy.
For those of you who don’t follow
college athletics, Wednesday night the Clemson Tigers faced the West
Virginia Mountaineers in the Orange Bowl.
Clemson was favored to win.
Clemson got juiced.
When the last drop of dignity had been
squeezed from our orange peel, the Mountaineers were victorious in a
stunning 70-33 final.
It takes a true believer to wear the
colors on the day after a loss like that. To acknowledge that we blew
it in every way imaginable, but still have hope for a new day, a new
season, another opportunity to return to the Orange Bowl and emerge
victorious.
I love the idea of being all in. It’s
how I want to live my life. All in . . . all the time.
Whatever God
has for me, I want to charge down the hill onto the field and face it
head on. After all, if God is for us, who can be against us! I’m
favored to win. All the time.
And some days, I do. I take the field
full of the Holy Spirit and when children whine, I pray. When laundry
mounts, I praise. When agents reject, I rejoice (ok . . . maybe not .
. . but you get the idea).
Then there are days where the score
swings wildly. I stumble, make poor decisions, and drop passes.
Thank goodness for half-time where I regroup and end the day on high
note.
But some days . . . the kids take turns
getting up all night and my defense is worn out before the sun comes
up. I’ve been sacked six times before breakfast, and even three
cups of coffee aren’t enough to prevent me from throwing two
interceptions before lunch. There are missed tackles, fumbles, and
poorly executed plays.
I have to wonder if that “great cloud
of witnesses” is squirming in their seats wondering what happened
to their girl. Where’s the mighty warrior of yesterday? Where’s
the comeback kid of last week? Why can’t she throw up a few blocks?
Why won’t she use her shield of faith? Her breastplate of
righteousness?
Do they watch as I collapse into bed,
sick with the knowledge that not only was today a poor showing, but
one I’ll regret forever? Do they wonder who will show up the next
day—the star quarterback or the third string kicker?
‘Cause lets face it, in this game, no
one can blame the Coach.
I’m so thankful God doesn’t watch
my “Orange Bowl” performances and give up on me. When I’m in
the locker room, spent and humiliated, He reminds me that I may have
lost this game but the Eternal Championship is already in the bag.
His Son won that battle on the cross (talk about being “all in”).
And while I sometimes embarrass myself on the field, the truth is
that His Spirit lives inside me and empowers me to run the plays God
calls.
Have you already blown it in 2012?
Yeah. Me, too.
Let's put the “Orange Bowl” behind
us.
Our Coach forgives when we ask and He
never gives up on us.
Today is a new game day. We can choose
to wallow in past defeat or charge the field confident we will win.
I'm all in . . . who's with me?
The steadfast love of the LORD never
ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness. “The LORD is my portion,” says my
soul, “therefore I will hope in him.” (Lamentations 3:22-24)
*****
Congratulations to Liz! She's the winner of the Tony Dungy One Year Uncommon Life Daily Challenge! Thanks to all who participated!
*****
Congratulations to Liz! She's the winner of the Tony Dungy One Year Uncommon Life Daily Challenge! Thanks to all who participated!
