As I mentioned a few days ago, my boy started a new hockey season recently. One season ended, with a small amount of fanfare, and the new season began two weeks later.
And I can tell you, with a small amount of pride, that my boy’s team won the championship. They got to hoist the faux Stanley Cup, and have their team photo taken, and it was all very exciting.
But I say “a small amount of pride” because I know how the season went. Truth be told, we lost a lot of games. I think we came on strong the first couple, and then lost several after that, with maybe a tie or two in there. But we left the rink disappointed many times over the season.
We never lost hope, though. ‘Cause there were only two teams in the “league,” so even though they beat us repeatedly, when the regular season ended, we made the playoffs. Odds were with us, though ~ we were the #2 team the whole season. And then the championship game came, and we were triumphant.
I know ~ it’s only youth hockey. But I’ve seen it in Little League, too, and it’s a good illustration. When the regular season is over, the slate is blank and the teams compete from a standpoint of equality. Anything can happen. And in this case, it did.
Reminds me of Jesus’ parable of the vineyard, in Matthew 20. The owner of the vineyard went out early in the morning to hire laborers, then went out again in the sixth hour, the ninth hour, and the eleventh hour. And at the end of the day, when the landowner paid the workers, those who had arrived early in the day complained that the late-arrivers received the same pay. The owner responded, “I wish to give to this last man the same as you. Is it not lawful for me to do what I wish with my own things? Or is your eye evil because I am good?”
It’s easy to look around at what others’ lives are like, and think, “It’s not fair.” But that’s second-guessing Him. We who believe have salvation ~ just like everyone else who believes. And it’s fair to say that none of us even deserves that, much less whatever additional blessings He sees fit to bestow.
Look around at your life, and see all that He has given you. And then, without turning to the right or the left, look up and give Him sincere thanks.
Light Expectations 