The pass

As the word "hike" left my mouth, the ball left the center's hands and floated back to mine. I grabbed the ball as it arrived, and took a step back. I looked around for a receiver who was open. The first look brought nothing. I looked again - and there he was.

I could see Steven going down the right side of the field. There was a defender close behind and another defender coming from the left.

With little time to think, I brought my arm back, and with a quick forward motion, I released the ball.

As the ball left my hand, I watched it spiral across the field. The defenders saw it as well, and started to make their move.

Without slowing down, Steven reached out, and the ball landed in his outstretched hands. Just as he caught the ball, both defenders grabbed the empty space where the ball had been less than a second earlier.

Steven continued running with the ball, and beat all of the pursuing defenders to the goal line. Touchdown!

OK, so maybe I have seen too many sports movies, but this was my perspective on the first offensive play of yesterday's football game at the 180 Family Campfire. As a 37-year-old male, I still have those moments where I wish I could be the quarterback leading his team to victory. Hey, if Brett Favre can still do it at 37, why can't I?

But I'm not Brett Favre. I am not anywhere near a professional quarterback. But I still go out in a field on a Sunday evening and drop back to pass like it's the Super Bowl. I try my best knowing I am not that good, but I am going to try my best none-the-less.

Isn't that really what following Jesus is like? We strive to imitate someone we can never be. But at the same time, we try our best, dreaming of being like Jesus. We make an effort to live into the dream that God has for each of us.

God is our Father, who, like many dads, will cheer on His sons and daughters as they try their best.

Unfortunately for many Christians, they struggle to get in the game - or stay in the game. After a few bad passes, they go to the sideline thinking they will never be good enough. Or maybe they look at life and decide that it's easier to stay on the sidelines.

Just like I know that not every pass will be like the one I described, not every experience of following Jesus is going to go just right. We will make mistakes and be frustrated. We will want to give up. But God is standing there cheering us on as He, by His grace, picks us up and puts us back in the game. And as we listen for the applause of Heaven, we will hear the voice of God, and fight the good fight.

shine!
Jason