From the Jaws of Defeat

It is my intent to put up a mini discussional/devotional each day of Lent. But, I may fall of that pace. I'd ask anyone who reads this to keep me accountable to it, however. Lent is a time for us to reflect and grow, and I feel that with each day bringing a new discussional/devotional and a prayer combining our program theme and Lent we can accomplish each of those in a better way. If you have a discussional/devotional for Lent that you'd like me to include, send it to me via e-mail at vicepresident@sigmatheta.org

Sundays in most traditions of Lent, and with anyone I've known that has practiced Lent, are traditionally viewed as "mini resurrections". They do not count towards the forty days of fasting/abstaining from *whatever*, and are days when we focus more on the resurrection than on the crucifixion. That will be my focus on Sundays, as well.

If you know me, you know I'm a huge sports fan. You might also know that I've told Rachel that as much as I love her, my first love is baseball, specifically the Cleveland Indians. One of the things I love most about baseball is that you never run out of time, only out of chances. Your favorite team can be trailing by a dozen runs, and as long as they don't make the final out of their final inning, they still have a chance to win.

I know I've been there. My team down three, with two outs, in the ninth inning. I think to myself "if we can get a couple of hits and a walk, then all we need is a grand slam home run and we win this game". And even though I know this is improbable, I also know it's not impossible. And the idea excites me. And on the rare occasion it happens, the joy that fills me is amazing. I start jumping up and down, screaming like crazy, and other such stuff.

And I don't want to trivialize the resurrection of our Lord, but I imagine the joy of the followers of Christ when they learned he was risen was about a million times the joy of when that walk-off grand slam home run happens. Something that seemed improbable and just about impossible (and, impossible for anyone besides Jesus) occurs.

What great motivation for us when we think about when we're having bad days. When we're stuck in ruts. When we can't make progress. When we can't see the coming dawn. Think about the joy of knowing our Lord snatched the ultimate victory for us from the jaws of defeat. He snatched life from the icy hand of death. He provided the ultimate "walk off".

Join me in this prayer:

Sovereign Lord,

You amaze me with who You are.

You provide hope where there should be frustration
Joy when I should have depression
Light when there should be dark
Victory where there should be defeat
Life where there should be death.

Thank you for giving me hope
For giving me purpose
For giving me a future

Thank you for atonement
Thank you for you
Thank you for love

Amen.