I was afraid and went and hid thy talent in the earth. – Matthew 25:25.
Time was I shrank from what was right
From fear of what was wrong
I would not brave the sacred fight
Because the foe was strong.
But now I cast that finer sense
And sorer shame aside
Such dread of sin was indolence
Such aim at heaven was pride. – J. H. Newman
Yesterday we talked of falling off that wagon called Lenten discipline. Today, let’s think a little bit about hiding our talent in the ground for fear of failing or losing. The great quarterbacks never fear the interception, and if it happens, the next time they get on the field they call a pass play. Every great QB has that game where passes bounce of receiver’s hands into the opposition’s waiting hands, the receiver turns the wrong way, or a pass is tipped by an on rushing lineman and the next thing you know it the QB has three or four interceptions and he must face a hostile press and fans after the game. The great ones have a healthy fear of making mistakes that cost the team, but they know they must continue to throw and force the ball into the impossible to win the game.
We too must set ourselves on the path of doing right, rather than avoiding what is wrong. We must be like the QB that is light-hearted, never fearing danger in serving God and our neighbor. We must run the risk of doing God’s will imperfectly, than not striving to serve him lest we fail in our attempt. A coach implores his team to leave it all on the field. We too need to leave it all on the field in the game of life – “don’t hold nothing back. Life is a game that has got to be played.”
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