Christian Living

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Those of us with athletic backgrounds are sometimes instructed by means of athletic metaphors. Early in my pilgrimage I was involved in a 2 on 2 basketball game. My partner was uncoordinated and very limited in skill due in part to the stage of his physical development. We had come to the closing moments of the game and I think the score was tied. I was tempted to be possessive with the ball and see if I could finish off our opponents and win it by myself. But something (Someone) prompted me to relinquish control, pass the ball and trust my team-mate despite his tendency toward making mistakes. I did pass the ball a little reluctantly and to my utter surprise and delight he made the winning basket! How we celebrated that afternoon! I took more and different pleasure in his success than I would have my own, probably because it was truly our victory and his victory and not merely my own. I confess I have not always been so able to make the unselfish choice in contests that followed through the years, but that was one of the precious times that I did. My team-mate would later die very young in a tragic accident related to his propensity to play with explosives. Small consolation, but I am so glad he and not I emerged the hero on the court that day.

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