Dancing Before the Game Is Over

You don’t dance until the game is over — An anonymous quote repeated by coaches all over the country.

I know I am old school when it comes to football. I come by it naturally. My father believed in the single wing and thought it was “bad football” to pass the ball on your own side of the field. I’m not that old school, but I am still bothered by celebrations before the game is won. I’ve seen too many last second comebacks, hail Mary’s, and fluke plays to dance before the game is over.

Suzy and I are fortunate enough to have received our second vaccine shots this week. I hope everyone will receive their vaccine soon, and I am tempted to dance. (By the way, Suzy and my children all say, “Please don’t.” They have seen me dance. Picture Tevya from Fiddler On the Roof with no rhythm or moves.). But back to my point, it is too early to celebrate. This game is a long way from over and until we are all safe including the anti-vaccer’s and the anti-maskers it isn’t time to dance.

The Lenten season is also not a time too dance or celebrate. We are called during this forty day period to do serious self-examination, have meaningful conversations with God, study like a new college student, and serve our fellow humans. Come Easter we will all have cause to celebrate and even dance. My coach used to say, “if you put in the work, it will pay off in the end.” Lent is a time to put in the work. Time for dancing will come.

About the author

Webb Hubbell is the former Associate Attorney General of The United States. His novels, When Men Betray, Ginger Snaps, A Game of Inches, The Eighteenth Green, and The East End are published by Beaufort Books and are available online or at your local bookstore. When Men Betray won one of the IndieFab awards for best novel in 2014. Ginger Snaps and The Eighteenth Green won the IPPY Awards Gold Medal for best suspense/thriller. His latest, “Light of Day” will be on the bookstands soon.

1 Comment +

  1. Webb, This is Ron Forman. I work with your incredibly talent daughter at the Audubon Nature Institute. She speaks so highly of you and shared with me your story of not celebrating until the game is over. I agree and enjoyed. Ron

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