I started out with the intention of writing a long piece on the champions league final. That was yesterday. In retrospect, there's little to be said - the best team won, by the number of goals I'd thought they'd win by, and even the other team's coach conceded he'd been outclassed by the Spaniards. So there's little to say.
Except one little thing, and that has more to do with life than with football - if pressure breaks you, if not having your way leads you down the path of anger because you think you're 'entitled', then the word best cannot be used to describe you. And when the rubber meets the road, it is character and not skill that says what you really are. When push comes to shove, who you really are will come out, quite on its own...
Oh, one more thing: one of my pastors, Pr.Gich, once pointed out that one the biggest traps that great men fall in is the trap of 'entitlement'...thinking that because you are who you are, you must have your way, and you can make your own way. Think about David, he said. King of all Israel. One night, when people were away at war, the guy saw a woman. Only she was someone else's wife. But no, he was king of all Israel, could have whatever he wanted, right? He even went ahead to kill the guy (who, by the way, refused to be entitled to rest while his mates were out fighting)...
Beware, dear Christian who has been saved for many years and now thinks a little 'fun' fire to the bosom is in order, and that Moses probably set the boundary too far - I'm an Israelite, can't I move closer to the boundary than God said? Remember Korah, Dathan and Abihu; Beware dear leader, held in reverent piety by all yet hiding behind lifted unholy hands and busy compromising - I'm a levite, is it not my right to be honored, unquestioned and do whatever I wish? Remember the sons of Eli; Beware dear youth minister, thought cool and highly esteemed, letting pride check in and seeking title - flashbulbs, the fans are shouting my name..He will share His glory with no other.
By the way, no one is perfect. Those who know they're not and are quick to seek and lean on the grace of the Savior, embrace the humility of repentance as David did, and remember that our God is just and an all consuming fire... those are the wise ones. The only things I am entitled to are the ones God says I am. And He is not a flimsy speaker who gives us to satisfy our flesh and selfish desire.
I had intended to talk about football.
