Should I No Longer Love Football?

Q: Football is in the news a lot these days and I used to love the game. I am a high school coach, but the ugliness of societal ills seem to be spoiling things that once brought a sense of pleasure — a momentary and satisfying break to the problems of the day. I just want to throw in the towel. Am I wrong? — F.F.

A: Georgia Tech played the University of California in the 1929 Rose Bowl. A player who recovered a fumble became confused and ran the wrong way. A teammate tackled him just before he would have scored a touchdown against his own team. At halftime the players retreated to the locker room bewildered, wondering what the coach would say. This young man sat by himself, put a towel over his head, and cried.

When the team was ready to return to the field for the second half, the coach stunned the team, announcing that the same players who had started the first half would start the second. All of the players left the dressing room except this young man. He would not budge. The coach looked back as he called him again, and saw that his cheeks were wet with tears. The player said, “Coach, I can’t do it. I’ve ruined you. I’ve disgraced the University of California. I can’t face that crowd in the stadium again.”

Then the coach put his hand on the player’s should and said, “Get up and go back in. The game is only half over.”

This is what God says to us when we fail or want to give up. As long as we live this life, we are in the game. We should not let our own failures — or the failures of others — take us out. God intends for us to persevere (Revelation 2:3).

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(This column is based on the words and writings of the late Rev. Billy Graham.)

(c)2018 BILLY GRAHAM DISTRIBUTED BY TRIBUNE MEDIA SERVICES, INC.