The Championship! The strangest game I ever saw...
The defending champions strolled confidently onto the football pitch (soccer field, for you Americans). They carried themselves as befitted a team that had come from behind the year before and decisively crushed all opposition. This was a team that knew what it meant to play hard, to play with heart, to give it your all.
The opposition came in from the other side, somewhat intimidated but determined nonetheless. They knew they had done all the preparation they could possibly do for this game. They knew that on paper they had a good chance. But ... the game wasn't going to be played on paper, now, was it? They were worried, but they were determined to give it their best.
The challengers won the toss and the game soon moved into a fast-paced, skilled match. The teams were so evenly matched! The ball moved from one end of the field to the other, resembling tennis more than football!
Then something strange happened. The challengers took a shot from just outside the box, the champion goalie dove and barely deflected the ball -- the crowd went wild! But immediately they saw that something had happened. The crowd went silent as the entire championship team ran to their goalie. He had stood up again and seemed unhurt, but the whole team was gathering around in obvious concern. They were throwing dark looks at the opposing team as if someone had played dirty. As the team finally spread out enough to see what had happened ... well, it looked like there was ... nothing. The goalie understandably looked a little disheveled with a dirt-mark on his jersey, and he was obviously upset, but he seemed to be completely unharmed. He just kept pointing to his jersey in frustration.
In some confusion the ref whistled for the game to go on.
As the first half came to a close the score was still tied up at zero and the ball was deep in the challenger's end of the field. The challenger defender had just intercepted a pass and was dribbling quickly down the field to clear it out of his end. The champion's striker (#10) moved in with a brilliant slide tackle, tapping the ball just enough to be completely out of reach of the defender and in perfect position for a lightning attack.
This striker was known for capitalizing on this type of situation. In fact, defenders and goalies alike dreaded seeing #10 move inside the box.
The goalie bravely ran to meet him ... but then something strange happened. #10, the intrepid, unstoppable attacker, glanced down and then completely broke off. He looked down in total dismay and then immediately signaled his coach for a substitute.
A substitute?! #10 had played 90 minutes of every game ever since he joined the league! He was renowned for his fitness and his seeming total immunity to injury. The medical personnel prepared the stretcher to run out onto the field, but he seemed to be walking without difficulty.
The referee quickly consulted with both linesmen, but neither had seen any reason to stop play. The goalie had picked up the ball and was hesitating -- was the ref going to blow the whistle? Had something happened?
You could almost see his mind processing -- This is different than anything I've ever seen, but my trainer always tells me to play the whistle and I heard no whistle. He hurled the ball to one of his mid-fielders who neatly batted it ahead past the mid-line. A mad dash down the side-line, a perfect cross into the center and ...
But wait! The defending champions aren't even watching the ball, far less actively playing. In fact, yes! The goalie actually picked his feet up and stepped over the ball as it went into the goal so that he wouldn't be hindered on his way to see player #10.
What is going on with #10? He's walking normally, but keeps looking down at his leg. Could it be a knee or ankle injury? No, they are all talking animatedly and pointing at his upper leg. If it's a pulled muscle or other injury why isn't he limping?!
This is the strangest game I have ever attended!
The trainer is now digging through a suitcase while the rest of the team is gathered around. Not a single player from their team remains on the field at this point. It looks like the referee is preparing to red-card them for delay of game... Wait, the trainer has found what he's looking for -- it's ... it's a pair of shorts for their uniform? And the whole team is cheering!
Now #10 runs into the locker room with the shorts and returns after having changed. He's holding the old pair in his hands. Once again the whole team is gathering around, chattering like squirrels -- they all seem to be talking about ... I believe they are pointing at what looks like a small rip in the shorts. Yes, folks, it appears that all the hubbub is about a small rip that #10 got in his uniform when he tackled the defender several minutes ago.
The referee is obviously somewhat exasperated. He's delivered a red card to the trainer who is now leaving the field looking somewhat miffed. And the scoreboard is now reading that the goal WAS counted -- the defending champions are now down 0-1.
And that's how the rest of the game continued. The defending champions continue to become more and more interested in their uniforms. The challengers time and again blow right past the defenders while discussions about small rips or spots or stains take up the entire attention of the defending champions. At one point I'm quite certain I saw one of the players take out small color swatches and enter into a heated debate with a team-mate -- it sure looked like they were discussing whether their uniforms should be a slightly lighter shade of blue ... while the ball rolled between them and into their own goal.
The game ended in a rout, 17-0 for the challengers. And the problem wasn't self confidence or training or skills. The problem was that the defending champions forgot what game they were playing! All their attention was removed from the football game to a consideration of their uniforms.
WHAT A JOKE?! What team would EVER get their eyes that far off the ball?!
How about you?
God created you and placed you on this world for a reason. You are headed rapidly for eternity. Do you have your eyes on the ball? Or are you so focused on your physical needs, on your material wants, that you have mentally left the game and are letting the ball roll past you?
Your spiritual life is FAR more important than your pursuit of material gain or physical well-being. So often people will say things like "be careful - after all, your health is the most important thing." NO! IT'S NOT! Whether you are physically healthy today or tomorrow is important, but eventually we ALL die. And how will your physical health during your brief lifespan help you then?
We have got to get our priorities in order: Seek FIRST to know GOD and look for what HE wants; and then these other things will follow. Don't get those priorities mixed around.
Today is the day to get your relationship right with God. Don't wait until the last minute of the 2nd half...
The opposition came in from the other side, somewhat intimidated but determined nonetheless. They knew they had done all the preparation they could possibly do for this game. They knew that on paper they had a good chance. But ... the game wasn't going to be played on paper, now, was it? They were worried, but they were determined to give it their best.
The challengers won the toss and the game soon moved into a fast-paced, skilled match. The teams were so evenly matched! The ball moved from one end of the field to the other, resembling tennis more than football!
Then something strange happened. The challengers took a shot from just outside the box, the champion goalie dove and barely deflected the ball -- the crowd went wild! But immediately they saw that something had happened. The crowd went silent as the entire championship team ran to their goalie. He had stood up again and seemed unhurt, but the whole team was gathering around in obvious concern. They were throwing dark looks at the opposing team as if someone had played dirty. As the team finally spread out enough to see what had happened ... well, it looked like there was ... nothing. The goalie understandably looked a little disheveled with a dirt-mark on his jersey, and he was obviously upset, but he seemed to be completely unharmed. He just kept pointing to his jersey in frustration.
In some confusion the ref whistled for the game to go on.
As the first half came to a close the score was still tied up at zero and the ball was deep in the challenger's end of the field. The challenger defender had just intercepted a pass and was dribbling quickly down the field to clear it out of his end. The champion's striker (#10) moved in with a brilliant slide tackle, tapping the ball just enough to be completely out of reach of the defender and in perfect position for a lightning attack.
This striker was known for capitalizing on this type of situation. In fact, defenders and goalies alike dreaded seeing #10 move inside the box.
The goalie bravely ran to meet him ... but then something strange happened. #10, the intrepid, unstoppable attacker, glanced down and then completely broke off. He looked down in total dismay and then immediately signaled his coach for a substitute.
A substitute?! #10 had played 90 minutes of every game ever since he joined the league! He was renowned for his fitness and his seeming total immunity to injury. The medical personnel prepared the stretcher to run out onto the field, but he seemed to be walking without difficulty.
The referee quickly consulted with both linesmen, but neither had seen any reason to stop play. The goalie had picked up the ball and was hesitating -- was the ref going to blow the whistle? Had something happened?
You could almost see his mind processing -- This is different than anything I've ever seen, but my trainer always tells me to play the whistle and I heard no whistle. He hurled the ball to one of his mid-fielders who neatly batted it ahead past the mid-line. A mad dash down the side-line, a perfect cross into the center and ...
But wait! The defending champions aren't even watching the ball, far less actively playing. In fact, yes! The goalie actually picked his feet up and stepped over the ball as it went into the goal so that he wouldn't be hindered on his way to see player #10.
What is going on with #10? He's walking normally, but keeps looking down at his leg. Could it be a knee or ankle injury? No, they are all talking animatedly and pointing at his upper leg. If it's a pulled muscle or other injury why isn't he limping?!
This is the strangest game I have ever attended!
The trainer is now digging through a suitcase while the rest of the team is gathered around. Not a single player from their team remains on the field at this point. It looks like the referee is preparing to red-card them for delay of game... Wait, the trainer has found what he's looking for -- it's ... it's a pair of shorts for their uniform? And the whole team is cheering!
Now #10 runs into the locker room with the shorts and returns after having changed. He's holding the old pair in his hands. Once again the whole team is gathering around, chattering like squirrels -- they all seem to be talking about ... I believe they are pointing at what looks like a small rip in the shorts. Yes, folks, it appears that all the hubbub is about a small rip that #10 got in his uniform when he tackled the defender several minutes ago.
The referee is obviously somewhat exasperated. He's delivered a red card to the trainer who is now leaving the field looking somewhat miffed. And the scoreboard is now reading that the goal WAS counted -- the defending champions are now down 0-1.
And that's how the rest of the game continued. The defending champions continue to become more and more interested in their uniforms. The challengers time and again blow right past the defenders while discussions about small rips or spots or stains take up the entire attention of the defending champions. At one point I'm quite certain I saw one of the players take out small color swatches and enter into a heated debate with a team-mate -- it sure looked like they were discussing whether their uniforms should be a slightly lighter shade of blue ... while the ball rolled between them and into their own goal.
The game ended in a rout, 17-0 for the challengers. And the problem wasn't self confidence or training or skills. The problem was that the defending champions forgot what game they were playing! All their attention was removed from the football game to a consideration of their uniforms.
WHAT A JOKE?! What team would EVER get their eyes that far off the ball?!
How about you?
God created you and placed you on this world for a reason. You are headed rapidly for eternity. Do you have your eyes on the ball? Or are you so focused on your physical needs, on your material wants, that you have mentally left the game and are letting the ball roll past you?
Your spiritual life is FAR more important than your pursuit of material gain or physical well-being. So often people will say things like "be careful - after all, your health is the most important thing." NO! IT'S NOT! Whether you are physically healthy today or tomorrow is important, but eventually we ALL die. And how will your physical health during your brief lifespan help you then?
We have got to get our priorities in order: Seek FIRST to know GOD and look for what HE wants; and then these other things will follow. Don't get those priorities mixed around.
Today is the day to get your relationship right with God. Don't wait until the last minute of the 2nd half...
IT'S TIME TO GET BACK IN THE GAME!!!
Well said. You even had me in the story's drama of the game!
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