On New Year’s Day in 1919, Georgia Tech played the University of California in the Rose Bowl. Shortly before half time, a man named Roy Reagals recovered a fumble for California. Somehow he became confused and he started running 65 yards in the wrong direction. A team mate tackled him just before he would have scored for the opposing team. When California attempted to punt, Tech blocked the kick and scored a safety.
The team headed off the field and went into the dressing room. As they sat on the benches, Reagals put a blanket around his shoulders, sat down in the corner, put his face in his hands and cried like a baby.
Coach Nibs Price was silent. No doubt he was trying to decide what to do with Reagals. Everybody just sat there. When the timekeeper announced three minutes till the end of the half, the playing time, Coach Price looked at the team and simply said, "Men, the same team that played the first half will start the second."
The players got up and started out -- all but Reagals. He didn't budge. The coach looked back and called him again but still he didn't move. Coach Price went over to Reagals and said, "Roy, didn't you hear me? The same team starts the second half." Reagals looked up and with tears in his eyes he said, "Coach, I can't do it. I can't do it. I've ruined you. I've ruined the University of California. I've ruined myself. I couldn't face that crowd in the stadium if my life depended on it." Coach Price reached out, put his hand on Reagals' shoulder and said, "Roy, get up and go on back. The game is only half over."
None of us know what kind of year 2008 will be. What we do know is that as long as God has us on this earth, He has a purpose for our lives. Until then, the game is not over. He will give us all we need to keep on going, in good times and bad, in moments of victory and even in moments of defeat.
Psalm 27:1-2 (NIV)
Of David.
The Lord is my light and my salvation--
whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life--
of whom shall I be afraid?
When evil men advance against me
to devour my flesh,
when my enemies and my foes attack me,
they will stumble and fall.
