5-2 ain't bad...

I don't think anyone would disagree that 7-0 would be better than 5-2, but let's be honest, 5-2 is pretty good. My journey into the world of organized school sports began this year when my 7th grade son started playing full contact football this year. He somehow managed to work his way into the role of center, punter and occasional defensive lineman. He's enjoyed the experience, the coaches have been great and my son has learned some valuable lessons along the way. Lessons like discipline, teamwork, sportsmanship, hard work and humility to name a few. As he has been learning some new lessons, I've been reminded of a few old lessons myself. 


The season began in strong fashion with dominating wins, defensive stands and hard fought battles. His 7th grade team managed to shut out a few opponents and even accumulated a record of 5-0. Spirits were high, team morale was strong and the parents of players had nothing but praise for the coaches. And then one day, just a few weeks ago, things changed. The team experienced its' first loss, and then the following week, another loss. The once  5-0 team is now 5-2 and suddenly the fanfare has dissipated. As I watched the team suffer its' second loss yesterday in as many weeks I was reminded of how fair whether our support can be of what God is doing in our lives. Listening to parents gripe and scream at a coach for not calling a play that in their opinion would have turned the tide reminds me of our gripes and complaints towards God when things aren't going our way. 

When the money's flowing, the kids are behaving and the boss is in love with your latest idea, all is well. God is great and God is faithful. But what happens when money is tight, the kids are acting like fools and you've dropped the ball at work on more than one occasion lately? What happens when you're not undefeated anymore? What happens when God calls a play that you don't like? Suddenly we find ourselves not as enamored as we once were with what God is doing in our lives. Suddenly, we find ourselves grasping for control of the playbook. Suddenly we find ourselves questioning the calls, the substitutions and the strategy. 

Maybe we need to be reminded that we don't know best? Maybe we need to be reminded of why we weren't asked to be the coach? Maybe we need to be reminded that God is still great and still faithful even when you're 5-2.

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