Of course I was watching Butler lose to Duke last night -- a very well played game by both teams. Butler should be proud of a very strong effort, reflective of all that they had accomplished in the NCAA tournament thus far -- except they didn't win. Does that mean they failed? Do WE fail, if someone else "wins" and we "lose" at something?
One of the top players on the Butler team, Gordon Hayward was given the opportunity -- twice -- to shoot the game-winning shot in the closing seconds of the game. Twice he shot. Twice he missed. Is he a failure? I feel for him. I've been there. Oh, not in a basketball game, but in other things, other competitions, endeavors. To come so close to "winning it all" feels a bit like failure. There's plenty of people -- in sports and out -- who are ready to remind someone who's never "won it all" that, no matter how good they are, they "have never won the big one."

No, Gordon is not a failure. All he needs to do is properly interpret the Bible verse he chose when he was confirmed in the faith several years ago -- Philippians 4:13 -- "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

I say, "properly interpret," because there are many people -- especially many Christian athletes -- who have, over the years, misappropriated this verse as their favorite verse because they think it means that if you serve God in your heart, God will give you all the victories you desire -- on the basketball court, football field, whatever.

But St. Paul, when he wrote this, did not write that we can "accomplish" all things through Christ, but rather that we can DO all things through Christ. "Accomplishment" assumes a kind of contest, something judged by human standards. Paul himself could have felt himself a failure because he was in prison when he wrote his letter to the Philippians. Yet he did not feel that way. He knew that the standard he was to follow was a heavenly, not an earthly, standard. He was simply called upon to be as faithful to God as possible, and DO his best, whatever the result may be -- whether he accomplishes all his earthly goals or not. "We are more called upon," the saying goes, "to be faithful than successful."

Back on March 23, out in Salt Jose, California for the 1st round of the tourney, Gordon's wife and twin sister were looking for something that would raise his spirits. Gordon hadn't been playing as well. They went to a Christian bookstore, trying to find anything upon which Philippians 4:13 was written. Unsuccessful, they turned to a clerk, who looked around. Finally he returned to them, looking downhearted. Perhaps he thought they were looking for a more "girlish" gift. "Well," he said, "all we have is a medallion witht the verse on one side -- and this drawing of a basketball on the other." Perfect. Gordon loved the gift, and he played better to boot.

In the days leading up to the Super Bowl, some kids wanted me to pray for the Colts to win. I discussed with them why we shouldn't pray for that, but rather that the men on both teams play up to their God-given potential, showing in their attitudes, win or lose, something "of God."

I think both Butler and Duke showed that last night -- in their attitudes, their teamwork, their unselfish play, in their hard work and dedication. When Hayward went to his Brownsburg church the day before the final game, on Easter, he was mobbed by some of the parishioners and was called upon to autograph their church bulletins. But let's not kid ourselves. The most important autograph we can collect comes from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Let's let Him write His name on our hearts with the subscript, "You're mine."

David Hewitt