Anyone who knows me, knows that I am a sports fan. If we have spent any time together, you probably know that I am a huge fan of the Oklahoma Sooners. As the fight song goes, “I’m Sooner born and Sooner bred and when I die, I’ll be Sooner dead.” As a result, other sports fans know that today, January 8 is a very significant day to this and every other Sooner. Maybe you have heard about it: The BCS National Championship.

There was a time in my life that the results of a game like this would have had a major impact on my psyche. Don’t misunderstand me. I will be ecstatic if we win and temporarily insane if we lose. But please notice the priority of the word, temporarily. It is a game. As competitive as I am, it is fun to win and upsetting to lose. But it is a game. No matter the results tonight, the real challenges and victories of life will be here tomorrow.

You see, in the past twenty four hours, I have been notified that a very dear friend remains in the hospital recovering from major injuries from an auto accident. This morning’s e-mails brought news that a very young mother, one of our former campers, will be subjected to a biopsy this afternoon. The latest phone call informed us that a good friend/leader in North Dakota is dealing with cancer and the major surgery that accompanied it. Yesterday’s calls included two very close friends that are consumed with finding God’s next step for their lives.

Tonight is a game. My cheers will not be heard in Miami. My screams at the television will have no impact on the final score. But my prayers and personal expressions of concern just might make a difference where it really counts. Those realities are not a game. But no matter the final outcome, we are guaranteed victory because it is all in the hands of God.