My baseball season ended before World Series game seven. Though I enjoyed unexpected teams playing like a group of giants and angels, I've grown weary of Atlanta's bravery not going far enough.
Then football ended early also. My Yellow Jackets lost key players on offense and defense to injuries. But if the Jackets only win one more game - the game against their neighborhood dawgs - and if the Falcons pass me a few more surprises, maybe football returns for several weeks in the winter.
The sport though, at least my sport, started last night. A friend invited me to bring two of my sons and sit beside him at TD Waterhouse to watch Magic begin again. And begin again they did.
Hill played like a healed athlete. McGrady played like a calm man, saving his moments of excellence for times of desperation. Burke showed why we needed a 28-year-old rookie to return from Greece to his Florida home. Armstrong is still little but big. Kemp is still big but we need big. Together, teamwork worked.
In the third quarter the Magic went down by nine. I told my friend Mike, "The next two minutes will bring us back or keep us out." We came back. We took over.
With four minutes left in the game I said to Mike, "We can't let them make a run. We need to hit them while they are down." We didn't let them and we did hit them.
I learn lessons from the fields, from the courts. As children wear masks on a Halloween time I remember more than sports. I remember historical heroes in life, risking more than falls, defeats or injuries. God's team players gave lives for victory. All Saints Day plays back the games, highlights victorious victims, and reminds us of a willingness to risk all in pursuit of a win over sin. I like that day much better than the cover-your-face-and-eat-too-much-candy day.
The Magic took off their masks last night. No predictions or promises or preseason politics mattered. What they did on the court mattered.
God's followers must take off masks in life. No pretending or prompting or positive propaganda needed. Only what is done for the Owner matters.
If you are a spiritual point guard, bring the ball up the floor and motivate teammates what to do as you get them going. If you are a shooting guard, fake and turn then take that open shot. Big man? Hit the boards. Small forward? Stop the lead scorer on the other team before expecting to raise your own numbers. I call it teamwork. The Bible calls it a body, a house, a flock. Working best equals working together.
Injuries and free agents, victories and defeats, wars and rumors of wars, sins and sicknesses, debates and inquiries, costs rising and accounts dropping, broken plans and lonely hands: that's life. But since saints took risks, we are free to survive and succeed in every season.
It's almost like believing in magic. Just better.
Along the way,
Chris Maxwell
Powerful Statement: "Even in darkness light dawns for the upright, for the gracious" (Psalm 112:4, NIV).
--by Pastor Chris Maxwell, Evangel Assembly, Orlando, Florida. Used by permission.
Read Pastor Maxwell's bio and enjoy his poetry!
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