After the Game is Over…

       Before our trip to Michigan in March, Al had expressed the desire to attend a University of Michigan basketball game in the Chrisler Arena, Ann Arbor. The last time he had been to a game was during his college years as a student at UM. He went online to see if he could purchase tickets for the final game of the season, which happened to be during the same week that we would be in Detroit visiting family.

     “You won’t believe how much the tickets cost,” he told me incredulously. “One hundred dollars each! And that’s for tickets on the top level.”

      Wow! Prices had gone up since college days. Of course it was the last game of the season and the Michigan team was doing very well. Tickets were in high demand for the game between UM and Indiana University. He ended up purchasing two tickets in the highest section, a few rows from the top.

      When we got into the arena, an usher noticed that Al was walking with some difficulty due to his new ankle joint replacement.  He took us over to the guest services desk where our tickets were exchanged for two seats in a much better location so that we wouldn’t have to climb any stairs. Evidently a few tickets were reserved every game for that reason. We ended up sitting in seats that would have cost several hundred dollars.

       As the time drew near for the game to begin, the intensity of the sound inside the building started to grow. People cheered the teams as they ran onto the court. The pep band started playing and cheerleaders began their routines. Then the announcer blared out the names of the starting players from each team over the loudspeakers. During the in-between times, rock music came over huge speakers, making heads and bodies throb.

       With all of the commotion going on around them, it was a wonder that the players could concentrate on the game. The words “MAKE SOME NOISE!” danced across large video screens suspended from the ceiling, as if we needed to be reminded! The whole UM rooting section below us roared, showing their passion for the team.

       It was easy for the fans. All they had to do was cheer; but, down on the court, the battle was fierce. Both of the teams really had their work cut out for them. They had to maneuver around extremely tall guards and dodge flailing arms, knees and elbows, all the while endeavoring to hear what their coaches were telling them over the roar of the crowd. The players were skillful, dedicated young men who had been expertly coached.  It was a suspenseful game, with Michigan winning in the final minute by two points.

       We felt drained after all of the excitement and commotion. The players must have been exhausted. They probably had a day or two of recuperating before resuming classes, practices and then preparing for the big NCAA tournament in March. There would be no time to sit back and bask in the glory of that moment. Big challenges loomed ahead.

        As followers of Jesus, that is exactly what we must do each day—keep moving on. Whether it is after a victory or defeat in our personal lives, we must keep our focus on Jesus and move forward, day after day. May we face each challenge that life brings with faith, courage and determination. Our hope is in Him!

 “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12:1-2 NIV

(published in the Porterville Recorder, April 5, 2014)