Jumping on the Band Wagon...

I remember the summer before we got married (6 1/2 years ago now) when everyone and their brother decided to be Colorado Avalanche fans. You'd better not wear red or mention anything about Michigan - you could have easily been lynched for using swear words like (shh Detroit Red Wings). It was exciting times as our Avs took us all the way to the Stanley cup finals and took the cup!!! My excitement for the team was one steeped in memories of a first date with Tracy (P.F. Changs & hockey - ahh those were the days), meeting Tracy's co-worker & wife (now GREAT friends) Russ and Nicole, meeting Jen & Micah downtown for dinner and hockey (and waiting for WM - white man- before crossing the street!). When we went to the games, we stood up to watch the action, skipped bathroom breaks, looked for ourselves on the jumbotron, cheered for hat tricks & fights, booed at penalties and really loved our team! By the time we knew they would make it to the Stanley cup, everyone seemed to be a fan. People who didn't even like hockey were talking about it - at work, the grocery store, church. You could stop anyone on the street and say "Go Avs" and you'd get a whoop. As we watched the final game on T.V. from Dave's loft, which happened to be in the parking lot of the Pepsi Center, we were as good as there. As the final game wrapped up and we were declared the victors, thousands of fans poured out of the stadium cheering, hugging strangers, holding already printed newspapers declaring victory - it felt like the biggest craze I had ever been a part of! We were all a part of that team. We had somehow helped the Avs win the highest honor in NHL.

Since 2001, all our teams in Denver have been struggling. Fans stop buying season tickets, the sports writers commentate bleak outcomes and enthusiasm for the sports are reserved for the die-hards. It's not as much fun to root for teams that are just so-so.

Well, hold on to your bats & ball gloves! Our Rockies are going to the World Series! Admittedly, I feel guilty that I am now one of "those fans" who is jumping on the band wagon as they are winning and playing an awesome game with as much action as baseball can have. I have been watching every game for the past 3 weeks and am so excited to be able to watch baseball in October (which hasn't happened for me in a VERY long time!)

I try to put a spiritual spin on pretty much everything that happens in my life but admittedly, this was a tough one. I mean really, we are talking about baseball here. But I couldn't help but feel that twinge of guilt - if only I could call myself a true fan... If only I had been to even 1 of their games this season. I could actually feel proud that they are my Rockies - that I am a part of what is happening down at Coors Field. But instead, I am trying to reap all the benefits of victory without any of the misery of sitting through lost games and boring 9-inning snoozers. The Rockies weren't looking so hot even 3 months ago in the midst of their season. The stands weren't full and people were losing hope of even making the play-offs.

Dear Christians, don't lose hope. We have already claimed the victory! Even though we know the outcome, we aren't exactly sure how it will all play out. Wouldn't we love to take the benefits of heaven with all that God has to offer us in eternity without the losses? It'd be great to jump on the band wagon right before Christ's return and go straight onto glory without all the spiritual struggles that plague us as believers today. It would be great to skip over the tough parts of life and move straight onto victory, but there never seems to be an easy way to winning it all. If there weren't losses, the winning would not be as sweet. Along the way of life, there will be critics and cynics, those who don't believe that victory is imminent. Don't listen to Satan and his lies, keep focused on your goals God has planted in your heart and be an active part of this life God has called you to. There is so much more joy in being a part of something huge when you are invested and know all the pain and struggles it took to get here. Be thrilled, for the journey is part of the victory!

Play ball! Go Rockies!
(If I'm too corny today - I apologize)