I consider myself somewhat of a Louisville Cardinal college basketball fan. Today, the men's basketball team was defeated by Michigan State University in the ELITE 8, the East regional final match.
After the game, I thought about the loss all day... I watched the video recap on the NCAA app... I watched the ESPN analysis commentary... I watched the post game interviews and press conference footage... I even read the game summary and analysis in the local newspaper...
and after all of that... I was completely frustrated! I did not really see how the Cardinals lost the game... and I did NOT feel any better about the loss! I marinated in my misery and my hurt over the loss a little while longer... until it hit me...
I didn't really have a right... or even a reason... to feel that much pain over the result of this basketball game. I'm not a student at UofL... I don't work at the University, or at the University Hospital... for sure, I am not a player on that basketball team (I'm 5‘6", and I don't even shoot basketball!)...
So, why was I, a mere spectator, so hurt by the outcome of this game? Why was I placing so much of my own happiness on the success or failure of someone else?...
You know who had the right to be hurt by this loss? ...the players on the University of Louisville basketball team. You know who had that right?
Montrezl Harrell... Junior, and Power Forward on the team. He had the right to be hurt...
There is serious talk about moving on to the NBA for this Louisville big man. So, the heartbreaking loss today may very well mark the end of Harrell's college career...
Wayne Blackshear, Senior Shooting Guard and Small Forward for the Louisville Cardinals...
During the game, he suffered complications from Asthma. He had a bloody nose... and at the half, he was in the locker room, vomiting like nobody's business!
Blackshear played through the pain like an MVP, scoring 28 points, including 100% (12 for 12) from the foul line! He muscled through like a tank, absorbing those body shots, with an already weakened constitution, in order to take the ball inside and create critical plays for his teammates. Wayne Blackshear literally left it all out there on the court... and they still came up short...
He certainly had a right to feel hurt by the Cardinals' loss today!
But I... I certainly did not... I was merely a spectator.
Now, don't get me wrong...I will likely always be affected by the outcome of a game for the Louisville Cardinals! But, I was reminded of an important life lesson today...
When you play the game, you will win... and you will lose... guaranteed. But, the key is to play the game, to actually participate in the process. That is what gives you the chance to win at something... and it is what gives you the right to feel the pain or pleasure of your results.
I was at a Bible education conference today. One of the speakers said, when it comes to spiritual success, if you "stop moving, you die"... you may not always do the right thing, and you may not always do things right...
but keep moving! ...stay active!
So, whatever you do in life... Amway, Uber, Bible education work... whatever...
Keep Moving! ...Stay Active! ...Don't Just Sit There... Participate!
...because life is definitely NOT a spectator sport!
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