How Football Chronicles Life

I live in Minnesota and ever since I was old enough to sit on the couch and watch football on TV (not even understand it, mind you), I have been a Minnesota Vikings fan.  For those of you who follow teams that offer you hope above all hope each year and leave you with a gut ache after nearly every game, you know what it's like to be at the point of entering into that final game which determines entry into the Playoffs and, essentially, whether or not your season ends. 

And here we are.  The cards are now stacked.  We either MUST win against the New York Giants (in New York) -or- the Chicago Bears MUST lose to the Houston Texans.  Both games are airing simultaneously at 1pm EST.   Either MUST occur for the Minnesota Vikings to advance to the Playoffs. 

Interestingly, the season didn't have to come to this.  Failed Option #1: IF they would have beat the Atlanta Falcons at Home last Sunday, they would have secured their spot.  Unforunately, the unsung player, quarterback Tavaris Jackson, was the only one who showed up for this game.  The rest of the team were weak in the pass rush, and slippery in their ball handling, turning the ball over 4 miserable times in the 1st quarter, and tried for a comeback ("too little too late") late in the 4th quarter, only to lose by a touchdown.  Failed Option #2: IF the Chicago Bears would have lost to the Green Bay Packers at Home last Monday, they would have secured their spot.  The Packers were ahead the majority of this game, outplaying the deplorable Bears over halfway into the 4th quarter.  Somewhere, somehow, Chicago picked up momentum in the sub-zero temps to secure a tie by the end of regulation.  Green Bay went 4 and out during their first possession and Chicago ran it to field position for a game-winning field goal.

So let's look at how this chronicles life.  What I have learned and embraced from a recent conference is that "Life is a Team Sport" and "The Game is Always ON" (thank you Jim Bunch).  We can play the game and consider ourselves victims of other people's actions when we don't get what we feel we deserve.  We can feel pressure from the "must-win" (must-do, must-have) and crumble because of our fear of losing (not accomplishing, not obtaining).  We can succumb to the "elements" of circumstances and buckle under our limited resources and limited strength.  We can become angry and frustrated by our lack of results and begin retaliating by mistreating others around us. 

Are you getting the point?  There are many things in the game of football that we can use to address how we fail to play our position in this game of life.  It's not anybody's fault for the winning or losing.  Reaching our goals demands that there is a combination of energies that assist us to our desired result.  The way we take responsibility, do our part in giving to others, and keeping the goal in our sights at all times will not only guarantee our advance, but deliver us to victory.

So remember this the next time you enjoy a sporting event and appreciate the lessons available through a friendly ball game.  It's a great conversation piece at the stadium over a beer, don'tcha think?

 Maria C. Baker, Legacy Group International Inc.