Soccer and the Election

George and I attended a soccer game on Election Evening. Our granddaughter, Jordyn (#21), was playing in the semi-finals game of the Oregon high school championships.

Exciting times.

And judging from the serious expressions, a little scary, maybe?
Or perhaps they were reviewing the game plan and their parts in it.

There was an impressive line-up and introduction of the teams,
 ironically dressed in red and blue.

A pre-game show of unity.

Game on.

It was a hard fought game, not without controversial calls,
including a goal kicked in and counted after the ball had gone out of bounds.
Final score, 0-2. Blue won. And went on to win the state championship.
There was celebration and there were tears on that field after the game.
Ah, Life....there will always be joy and sorrow in this world, from athletics to all that life entails. 
My prayer is that these young women will learn this lesson and not be drawn into the lie that life owes them all that they determine they deserve.
Strive for excellence, rejoice in the wins, be gracious in defeat, grieve a little after the losses, reevaluate your role in the game, make changes if necessary.
 Then move ahead, stronger and more determined to see joy in life. Win or lose.

I almost deleted this out-of-focus shot from my photo collection.
But as I looked at it five days after the game and the election, to my mind came the thought that it, too, shows something of both.
In the heat of the battle things can get out of focus. The game plan and our role on the team can be forgotten as our opponent presses in. Passes go awry, the ball gets kicked high and without forethought. There is a soccer term I have learned and it is sometimes even shouted from the spectators' section.

"Settle:The process of receiving the ball and causing it to stop at or near one’s feet using one's feet, head, chest, thigh or any other way legally touched. May be from a pass, a punt, a header, etc."

Settle. In other words, regain control. Calm down. Think. Go back to the game plan.
This morning my heart heard the call to "Settle". Get out of the chaos of the election news. God has this all under control. Not my job.
OK. What is MY game plan? What do I need to Settle into?
I have the greatest possible Coach!
He gently brought to my mind two very specific entries in the Playbook:

Micah 6:8
"He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?"

And the Book of James, where it gets specific.

For the next month I plan to read that book daily.

Instead of being constantly distracted into the unfocused, unprincipled, blurry realm of this past election cycle and what it means, I determine to study the perfect Game Plan and get out on the field of life.
There is a war to fight.
God's way. With His help. We win.