Every year around this basketball craze time known as March Madness, I have this particular numbing feeling about my past. Growing up in small town in Southern Illinois, high school basketball was extremely important and popular. It was (is) similar to high school football in rural Texas, which inspired the movie and television series, Friday Night Lights. With there not being much for entertainment, sports in small towns provide a sense of entertainment, worth, and ownership. As a child and teenager, I subliminally and quickly learned in order to be noticed, basketball was the stage.
My freshman year in high school was fortunate. I was part of a great varsity basketball team that won many games and was filled with extremely talented players. The competition from junior high to varsity basketball in one year provided many learning opportunities. As a junior high athlete, our basketball team only lost one game during our eighth grade season. Unfortunately, it was in the state tournament causing us to play in a consolation round earning third place. Going into high school, our young team didn’t know or ever expect to lose; we were clearly winners.
As in most metropolitan or rural areas, there’s consistently a dominant team. Whether it is baseball, football, basketball, etc. - everyone knows who’s good in ‘what’. This sets the expectations for matchups and favorites to win. In my high school basketball days, the Cairo Pilots were the team to beat. In junior high, I did not know this. I may have heard it from my father and his friends, but no impression was made. High school was a different story. When our team faced Cairo, there was a sense of uncertainty. The disbelief of a victory was evident. No matter how great our season accomplishments; our team always had to beat Cairo to proceed any further. The fear of a season ending due to a playoff loss to Cairo was the ‘elephant in a room’. No one would say aloud that it would end this way, but three of my four high school years unfortunately did. Our town’s mentality of Cairo carried over to our court performance. As talented as we were, from our sophomore to senior year, we never defeated the Pilots.
In the old testament, God promised his chosen people, the Israelites, their own land after releasing them from Egyptian slavery. His grace and plan for His people extended beyond their belief system. Based on scripture, it’s safe to say that the Israelites found it hard to internalize their future. Their consistent complaining and disobedience seems almost surreal when reading about their journey. God consistently revealed himself in many ways which should have established an undying faith in His ability and love. Unfortunately, this was not the case. They allowed their past experiences to adversely affect their future. When there time came for them to explore the Promised Land, they failed miserably by reporting the challenges instead of the opportunity. Due to their disbelief, the bible states that God didn’t allow the older generation to inherit His promise (Deuteronomy 1). In reading the entire book of Numbers, it’s clear that God is faithful, graceful, and merciful. However, no matter His attributes; His chosen people still fell short in believing His promises. Their opportunity to receive God’s gift had arrived and passed not because of God’s inability but because of their disbelief and fear.
Obviously, one of the biggest regrets I have as an athlete is never beating the ‘Pilots’. As an adult, I realize what my high school team’s belief in its God given ability to win and winning could have done for my small town and its future mentality. Similar to the Israelites, I only saw the obstacles we faced; however, now, I see the opportunity. Like the unfaithful generation described above, I’m arguably convinced that we missed our chance due to similar characteristics (disbelief and fear).
Today, one of the greatest motivations I have in making my life count is reflecting on my past. Unfortunately, I believe we all have missed opportunities. There are not too many adults whom I have deep conversations, which do not express a past regret and its effects on their life. As human beings, we mostly do our best to ‘make the best’ out of life current situations. Fortunately for us all, God is a redeemer and for those who love the Lord (John 14:15), he has promised to work out all things for good (Romans 8:28). The bible has provided us with many examples of God’s grace. Today, His grace still lives and thrives in our everyday culture. As individuals, we all must confess that we fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). Fortunately for us, God has made a way of escape through the acceptance of Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. God’s promises do not start without accepting His plan. You can read the bible all you desire, while quoting and shouting scriptures over your situation. Without the acceptance and following of Jesus Christ, your situation is voided, due to your initial disbelief. One day, the opportunity to ‘beat Cairo’ and ‘enter the Promised Land’ will pass. During your NOW moment, you have to accept His plan for your life. It all begins with accepting His son, Jesus Christ. If you have already done this, then there are other things in your life that you must face. God desires us to continue growing and becoming more like Him. The whole purpose of this abundant life He promises is not looking back and having regrets. I want us all to accept God’s best for our life.
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