Today, I am playing with just a little less than I would on a Tuesday. You may know that I typically go to bed around 10 to 10:30 at night. If you ask my wife, she will tell you that I usually fall asleep in my recliner about that time; and it isn’t until later that I move upstairs.
But last night I was up until after 1:00 a.m. The answer to the question is “yes!” I stayed up until the final goal in the Penguin’s Game 5, Triple Overtime Win over the Detroit Redwings! I put that exclamation point at the end of the sentence only to disguise my level of malaise.
I will admit to you that going into last nights game, I was not expecting much out of the Penguins. They had yet to score in Detroit during this Stanley Cup Final series, and this was a critical game for them. It was win or lose, do or die. If they lost last night, the Detroit Redwings would have won the 2008 Stanley Cup. Let’s also admit that Detroit is a great team and they were proving that throughout the series.
But being the fan that I am, I watched the game with great excitement as the Pens went up 2-0. I continued to watch as the Redwings cut the lead by one, and then eventually tied the game. I also watched with diminished joy as the Redwings scored a go ahead goal early in the game and listened as the fans in Detroit began to chant, “We want the Cup!” I admit that I was deflated; I felt defeated; I was a little hurt.
With less than a minute left in the game, however, the Pens scored the tying goal!
And then the game went into overtime. And then it went into a second overtime. And then it went into a third overtime. At this point, Tracy and I began to say things like, “even if they lose, they played with grit and determination. Even if they lose, they played with heart. They could actually win this game. Yet, if they lose – we can go to bed knowing that they played till the very end.”
What a roller-coaster ride! In the end, the Pens did win with a goal at around the half-way mark of that third overtime. I don’t think we had the energy to scream very much. Winning justified staying up that late to watch something that in the end holds very little influence in our life other than providing some entertainment and enjoyment.
I say that because I’ve been thinking a lot about hope and faith over the past few days. There are times in our lives when situations seem insurmountable, life seems inescapable, and death seems imminent. We lose hope sometimes when situations appear to be filled with hopelessness.
But, as Christians – we are always filled with hope and faith. Winning doesn’t always happen the ways that we think they should, healing isn’t always given to us according to ways that we expect. Filled with hope and faith, however, we are given new life through Christ who makes all things possible for us. Even in the face of insurmountable odds, we win – regardless of the outcome! Do you believe that?
One of my favorite passages of scripture talks about that hope. Paul writes in his letter to the Romans, “We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.” He then goes on to say that there is nothing that can separate us from God’s love in Christ Jesus our Lord.
But there is a great phrase that is a part of that concluding statement. Paul says, “I am convinced.” That simple phrase for me speaks volumes about faith and hope for me. It reminds me that sometimes we need to have a conviction that is greater than our doubts and our fears, one that allows us to hold fast to God’s love and the power of Christ to save us – even in the face of adversity.
Today, I don’t know whether the Pens will win the Stanley Cup. Regardless of the outcome, I know that there is always hope in my life and in the life of those who love God. And in the end, I guess its really about how we played, rather than if we win or lose in this lifetime.
I hope you are well. Get some rest tonight if you were crazy enough to stay up that late. This week, I will continue my mini-series on Genesis with a sermon entitled, “Go Where?” I look forward to greeting you in worship.
Please pray for me, and know that I am praying for you.
Greg
But last night I was up until after 1:00 a.m. The answer to the question is “yes!” I stayed up until the final goal in the Penguin’s Game 5, Triple Overtime Win over the Detroit Redwings! I put that exclamation point at the end of the sentence only to disguise my level of malaise.
I will admit to you that going into last nights game, I was not expecting much out of the Penguins. They had yet to score in Detroit during this Stanley Cup Final series, and this was a critical game for them. It was win or lose, do or die. If they lost last night, the Detroit Redwings would have won the 2008 Stanley Cup. Let’s also admit that Detroit is a great team and they were proving that throughout the series.
But being the fan that I am, I watched the game with great excitement as the Pens went up 2-0. I continued to watch as the Redwings cut the lead by one, and then eventually tied the game. I also watched with diminished joy as the Redwings scored a go ahead goal early in the game and listened as the fans in Detroit began to chant, “We want the Cup!” I admit that I was deflated; I felt defeated; I was a little hurt.
With less than a minute left in the game, however, the Pens scored the tying goal!
And then the game went into overtime. And then it went into a second overtime. And then it went into a third overtime. At this point, Tracy and I began to say things like, “even if they lose, they played with grit and determination. Even if they lose, they played with heart. They could actually win this game. Yet, if they lose – we can go to bed knowing that they played till the very end.”
What a roller-coaster ride! In the end, the Pens did win with a goal at around the half-way mark of that third overtime. I don’t think we had the energy to scream very much. Winning justified staying up that late to watch something that in the end holds very little influence in our life other than providing some entertainment and enjoyment.
I say that because I’ve been thinking a lot about hope and faith over the past few days. There are times in our lives when situations seem insurmountable, life seems inescapable, and death seems imminent. We lose hope sometimes when situations appear to be filled with hopelessness.
But, as Christians – we are always filled with hope and faith. Winning doesn’t always happen the ways that we think they should, healing isn’t always given to us according to ways that we expect. Filled with hope and faith, however, we are given new life through Christ who makes all things possible for us. Even in the face of insurmountable odds, we win – regardless of the outcome! Do you believe that?
One of my favorite passages of scripture talks about that hope. Paul writes in his letter to the Romans, “We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.” He then goes on to say that there is nothing that can separate us from God’s love in Christ Jesus our Lord.
But there is a great phrase that is a part of that concluding statement. Paul says, “I am convinced.” That simple phrase for me speaks volumes about faith and hope for me. It reminds me that sometimes we need to have a conviction that is greater than our doubts and our fears, one that allows us to hold fast to God’s love and the power of Christ to save us – even in the face of adversity.
Today, I don’t know whether the Pens will win the Stanley Cup. Regardless of the outcome, I know that there is always hope in my life and in the life of those who love God. And in the end, I guess its really about how we played, rather than if we win or lose in this lifetime.
I hope you are well. Get some rest tonight if you were crazy enough to stay up that late. This week, I will continue my mini-series on Genesis with a sermon entitled, “Go Where?” I look forward to greeting you in worship.
Please pray for me, and know that I am praying for you.
Greg
1 comment:
So did they win? Did they? I can't wait!!!
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