Backing into Success

The Chicago Cubs have lost three games in a row to one of the worst teams in the National League and are still closer to postseason play than they were on Sunday because the only team standing between them in the playoffs also keeps losing. Yesterday the Milwaukee Brewers committed five error, giving up four unearned runs in their loss to the Padres.

Chicago Tribune sportswriters are having a grand ol' time bring up the over used cursed stories about the Cubs. It must be difficult to bring a fresh perspective to sports stories because these guys rarely do. The fact of the matter is that the Cubs don't need to win another game the rest of the week because the Brewers (who have been worse than most teams since June 1) will not take two of the next three from San Diego. The Cubs will be playing in October.

It works that way in life sometimes. You can succeed despite your failings. In 2000 the New York Yankees won the World Series even though they lost their last seven games and 13 of their last 15. Last year's Cardinals barely won more games than they lost, but still became the World Champions.

It works that way in our relationship with God who forgives our failings and our short comings. Everyday we back into a clean slate. We are cleansed children of God. But how we respond to that grace is our choice. The Cubs may get into the playoffs backwards, but they will not win it all unless they turn it around in October. We are given God's grace as a free gift. But it will not makes a difference in the lives we live today if we don't live our our faith our God in in his grace.

Thankfully, though we fail, we are still loved. The same can be said about the "Lovable Losers." They may fail in 2007 or they may become World Series Champs, but either way they still are loved. But it will be much more fun be for the Cubs if they actually win... and for Christians if they actually live faithfully.