Notes from Camp 2012: What if I Didn't Foul?

Sportsmanship is a constant theme emphasized by our head coach in the youth camp. Younger kids (who are quick studies) are prone to bickering, especially about fouls and fairness. This is never so true as during the vaunted one-on-one tournament. 

When we're about to begin the tournament every year, we go over the rules in careful detail and then wait for the inevitable flood of questions from the kids. Some are questions that have already been answered; some are questions about obscure, unimaginable scenarios; and others are questions about drinks or the weather. Eventually, someone gets to a question of fairness. This year was no different. Upon discovering that the offense calls the fouls, one kid asked the obvious question: "What if they say 'foul,' and I didn't foul them?" 

Our head coach's response was perfect: "That's how life goes."

While not exactly what the kid wanted to hear, I'm sure, it's exactly what he needed to hear. So do most adults. That's how life goes. Unfairness occurs. Difficult people are all around. Basically, you will get screwed over at some point. Expect it.

I suppose one has to be careful. If you constantly expect the worst from people, that's not good either. But I think it's fair to expect the best and accept that you'll be disappointed at times. Rather than throwing adult-sized fits to all who will listen, desperately seeking for retribution or some judge to declare you the winner, perhaps a better response is a deep breath, a disappointed sigh, and a rugged determination to win anyway.

Christians especially must get better at this. Many of us at some time or another behave as if we believe that because we have God, we should expect comfort. Or at the very least, we should expect to win most of the time here on earth. But that's not the case. Yes, if God is for you, who can be against you? But that doesn't mean you don't live in a fallen world. God was with Daniel, and he was tossed into a den of lions. God was with Jonah, and Peter, and Joshua, and Moses, and Paul. All of them lived under pretty terrible conditions at times. And the Bible is full of their complaints. But almost every one of the complaints is followed by verbal expressions of shame at their doubt in the goodness of God.

There are certainly many losses in this life for which tears are appropriate. Weep for them. But know the difference. If it's just another game of one-on-one, deal with it, silently, and find a way to win anyway.