Football and Christ

"In team sports, it doesn't matter which of the players makes the points. When one individual scores, the whole team scores. If the quarterback throws a touchdown ball to the tight end, then it doesn't matter that the guards never touched the ball, or even that the defense was sitting on the bench. It doesn't matter that some on the team may have missed their blocks or run the wrong routes. It doesn't even matter that the second- or third-string hadn't yet been in the game. When one member of the team scores, the whole team scores. In terms of who wins, it doesn't matter whether we are on the offense or the defense, in the backfield or line, or on the first-stirng, second-string, or special teams. The entire team wins, not just the individual who makes the winning score.

"In making the gospel covenant, we become part of a team whose captain and quarterback is Jesus Christ, a cosmic Heisman Trophy winner who throws nothing but touchdowns. If we are on his team, we will go undefeated. Even if I miss my block now and then, even if he asks me just to sit on the bench most of the time, as long as he's the captain, we're going to win. But I've got to be in his team, not my own and not on somebody else's."

Since today is SuperBowl Sunday, and alas...it's also a Sunday...I thought I'd share one of my favorite analogies from Dr. Stephen Robinson (he was the father of one of my roommates at BYU and also the author of "Believing Christ"). This is from "Believing Christ", an analogy given to help illustrate that great dilemma, the fact that God cannot look upon sin with the least degree of allowance, yet we are all sinners, we sin every day....how could we possibly hope to inherit the kingdom and return home to Him? By taking the shortcut. By recognizing that we can't do it alone...that we are going to fail....that our spirits and bodies are in constant struggle and will NOT be one until the resurrection...and in recogizing that the only way is the perfect way...by giving everything we have and believing Christ when He said He can save us through His infiinte Atonement. So many of us Christians believe IN Christ; believe IN His identity, but we don't believe Him and what He has promised. But by having faith in His promise and recognizing that yes the gospel can work for each one of us, regardless of background, past choices, talents, or personal strength...we can finally find joy and realize that in that eternal celesital partnership with Him, we CAN become perfect...because He and us are One.

In forming that partnership, through repentance and faith, Christ can literally erase all of our sins and in Him we can be made perfect. This is not individual perfection, but perfection in Christ. And through that partnership, we can borrow His strength where we need it to lead better lives. We can find more desire to live purposefully and less desire to live in a way that can be damaging to us spiritually and physically. Only through Him can we find that strength and overcome. And the most amazing miracle of it all is this; that He has made this partnership available to everyone, and has made it easy to be part of his team...all we have to do is ask. Sure, life isn't easy for anyone...but our burdens CAN be made light when we finally believe Christ.

Life

No, nothing spectacular has happened; in fact, things have been getting steadily worse in my life, but I am still here to say that life itself is still wonderful :)

While I've missed several days of work due to severe neck and back pain, I am seeing a Physical Therapist who is helping me in ways I've never been helped before.

A new 8-week salsa class starts soon, and since it's focused primarily on salsa and not on all latin dance, I'm looking forward to it. I'm excited about this new hobby of mine and excited to see the progress I have made so far.

I am also seeing a Psychologist to help me learn how to get better control of my emotions, so that I don't have emotional breakdowns or "episodes" as frequently. For those of you who know me, I am very loving, very open, and very tender-hearted. I wear my heart on my sleeve. I don't play "the game" very well, because to me, human relationships are far too precious to be playing games with. However, I also have realized that despite my belief in that fact, I do know that my concern, love, and my outbursts concern people who love me, and can be very burdensome, and sometimes I say things out of pure love or concern that end up only hurting people. While this has gotten less and less frequent over the past 11 years since the problem was first brought to my attention, I still have a ways to go. But I'm slowly but surely learning the proper manner of dealing with such....and I'm grateful for that.

I'm grateful for trials; for heartache, for pain and for strife. It sucks to go through it; and sometimes you get to the point where you don't want to go on anymore. But when I get to that point, I remember to count my blessings, I remember everything I have, the people who love me. It is the adversity in our life that refines us and makes us better people. Without knowing darkness, we would never be able to appreciate light. I've also learned that happiness is a CONSCIOUS DECISION. I'm learning that it's up to ME, not anyone else, to make me happy:)

And so that is my choice. To be grateful, to be humble, and to be happy. And for the most part, it is working:)