We Lost the Game

In Middle School, I played in several basketball games, two of which were most memorable. One of them we lost but won the other one. Once in a while, we are blessed with the presence of a magical moment. They are rare; they are few; cherish them and understand why they are sent. We are graced by heaven with an unspeakable and thrilling event. Your greatest sports victory; absolutely spectacular! Your greatest sports defeat; it’s also sincerely yours. It’s your life, your story; dreams are made of these. Remind yourself; tell your children and their children. Tell them that life is best when we learn lessons that we need not repeat. Tell them that life has balance, and provides both agonies and defeats. When in the eight grade, I made the basketball team at my school. It was both fun and work as I played and learned the rules. As in every sport, winning is great; but losing is not cool. One season, my school played a rival school. I played the two-guard position and scored no baskets; Nor did I succeed at anything else. By game’s end, our rivals had scored 52 points. And my team had managed a measly total of 12. They were big and confident; we departed deeply defeated and sorely beaten. I started the season with pride and expectations, but finished weakened. But in the game of life, we pick our faces off the floor, head for the door, and stop our weeping. We cheer and shout our wins, but it’s hard to master how to lose. The greatest wins are those we celebrate when in defeat, we paid our dues. Today, the game is over, and we lost; tomorrow, we again, lace our shoes. Tomorrow, a new day will unfold with new battles; but a new story will emerge. cj09032007