Journey

This week, I was served a good “comeback story” that I didn’t like at first. When a surprising Lions receiver caught two TD passes to disrupt my hopes for a Packers win and division title, I sort of yelled, “Who is this guy and why can’t we stop him?”

The short answer is that Tim Patrick had 4 pretty good seasons with the Broncos and then suffered season ending leg injuries in training camp in 2022 & 2023. To start 2024, after working his way back again, he was cut before the season. The Lions picked him up for their practice squad.  Now 31 years old, he hadn’t caught a TD pass in 3 years!

Putting aside my bruised Packers bias, I’m very happy for Tim and like his post-game quote: “The journey was long, but it was worth it and made me the man I am today.”

Years ago, the journey was long for a young couple pledged to be married. An unexpected and difficult-to-believe pregnancy story disrupted well-laid plans, brought forth unpleasant whispers, and called into question their characters and integrity.  An oppressive government edict necessitated rugged travel late in the pregnancy and an unscheduled, risky delivery in an animal stable.

This is how God chose to enter humanity– amidst struggle and pain, surrounded by salacious rumors and oppression, in extraordinary vulnerability- in order to help us as Jesus the Christ. Like Mary and Joseph, God invites us to risk faith in Jesus that takes courage and real-life sacrifice to benefit others! Though the journey may get long, let’s get to it!