That last mile

On this Valentine’s Day, I am reminded that a very good friend of mine will be celebrating his 70th wedding anniversary in less than a month. Seventy years. Let that sink in for a moment. These crazy kids tied their nuptial knot in March 1941 (Genesis 2:24). Today, many marriages won’t see seventy months and in Hollywood, most don’t seem to survive seventy minutes. Is there a secret to success in matriculating the matrimonial mile? Probably not just one (Ephesians 5:28). Faith in the Father, love, trust, honesty, open communication, mutual respect, a sense of humor, attraction… all are key ingredients to a fulfilling, lifelong romance and a true partnership in which each person nurtures, supports and encourages the other (Hebrews 10:24). Every contractor knows it’s impossible to build something up if you keep tearing it down and relationships are no different. A firm foundation is essential. Our time on earth is precious and we’re blessed beyond measure to spend it with the ones we hold dear. Once you’ve navigated that last mile on earth together, with all its potholes, bumps, and unexpected twists and turns, the road that God has built through eternity will re-define “smooth sailing.”

We are the champions

Football is an amazing sport. Sure, the game has become more sophisticated over time, the players have gotten bigger, stronger and more athletic and the fans even more passionate about their favorite teams. Fantasy leagues allow the most devoted to become their own owner and general manager, offering an otherwise obscure opportunity to draft and trade players, based primarily on their performance on the field. Football is also a tremendous metaphor for life, which might explain the over-zealous abuse of many timeless clichés. On God’s gridiron, the patient Head Coach teaches (Leviticus 19:37), trains and prepares His charges for every situation we will face on the field. We learn to recognize potentially harmful situations and defend ourselves from wily opponents (2 Thessalonians 3:3), while at the same time encouraging teammates to always be prepared and play their best. Another Super Bowl week has come and gone and the NFL trumpeted its sports supremacy loud and long. Left standing after a lengthy season, two teams waged war for the right to be called champion. When we’re adequately armored in Jesus Christ (Ephesians 6:11), there is no situation we are unable to face and win, confident that God’s game plan guarantees the ultimate victory.