Are We Doing Our Best as Christians? I have always wondered whether I was doing my best as a  Christian, or am I just trying to get by. Sometimes I rationalize that God will let me by and then  I read in God’s word that this is just not true. There is a story about a professional football player, I won’t mention his name, but his story can make you wonder about what “best” can be. We will just call him the “old pro”. The team practiced 3 days each week and drew a small crowd of onlookers, mostly family members of the players. “Old pro” had a nine-year-old son and wife who never missed practice or a game and encouraged him with shouts of “that a-boy dad, hit ‘em again.” His wife hardly ever shouted, but his son was very vocal yelling at the top of his voice from the bleachers. You see, “old pro” was barely carrying out his assignments, missing blocks, fumbling the ball, and lackluster without any enthusiasm, but yet the shouts from his nine year old son continued from the stands. When the cut came for the final team he was number 45 out of 47 just barely making the squad and being almost eliminated. Each time that his son shouted encouragement the other players would look up disgustingly and feel a sense of shame for his father's poor performance and lack of interest. Even though the son shouted cheers for his dad each day and was very proud that his father was a football player, he couldn’t see the performance, the little boy was blind. Everyday the son would encourage his mother to hurry and leave the house so that they wouldn’t miss any of the practices and he could encourage dad to do his best. One practice day the little boy was anxious to get to the field and was prompting his mother, “hurry up mom we are going to be late.” The mother and son were rushing to the car with the little boy urging her to drive faster, we can’t be late. As they were driving to the stadium she was noticeably excited by her son’s constant ‘hurry mom’ and didn’t see the stop sign at the intersection. A huge truck was approaching at a fast rate of speed. The truck slammed into the passenger side of the car where the little boy was sitting completely crushing that side of the car.  The mother was not seriously injured and as the emergency vehicle was ready to speed away to the hospital she said to the officer, “get his father at the stadium.” “Old pro” arrived at the hospital and as he and his wife embraced with tears.  Their son was in the operating room in critical condition, and it seemed to them like an eternity, before the doctor finally approached them slowly taking off his surgical mask to show a very distraught face. The doctor’s only words were I’m sorry we did all we could. Only those who have lost children could feel as the “old pro and his wife felt, as they had lost their only son.  Several days had passed before the big championship football game was to be played and as the players dressed for the game “old pro” entered and started his equipment dress for the game. The coach came immediately to him saying please don’t do this and go home, but he continued to dress without saying a word. His fellow teammates wanted to console him, but didn’t know how to express their feelings of deep regret. After the kickoff and into the second quarter “old pro’s” team was behind by two touchdowns and by half-time it seemed that there was no overcoming such a superior opponent. When the third quarter started the team was behind by three touchdowns and they just couldn’t seem to do anything right. “ Old pro” was begging the coach, put me in, put me in, but the coach kept saying sit down, what could you do. Finally, after much persuasion by the “old pro”, the coach said to himself, all is lost anyway, I might as well help his feelings. As “old pro” went into the huddle his teammates were shocked and said “O No” what good could he do? Immediately he told the quarterback, call my number, do you hear me, call my number and much to the quarterback’s chagrin he did. On the first play he tore through the line gaining almost thirty yards and running back to the huddle said, “call my number”, out of shock and surprise the quarterback did exactly that, on the very next play “old pro” scored a touchdown. The team’s momentum was back and when they got the ball back “old pro” was running up and down the field like a man possessed scoring three more times. The fans were wild with excitement, shouting his name and the game ended. His teammates were carrying him on their shoulders toward the dressing room. They had won! Television crews were trying to interview him, well wishers had surrounded him, but the coach grabbed him away and both entered into his private office behind a locked door. The coach said, “ you have been here seven years and never played as you played today, you could have done this all along, you have cheated me/” Tell me, what inspired you to play as you played today. “Old pro’s head slightly bowed down and with tears running down both cheeks he said, “remember my little boy.” The coach replied, yes and we are all sorry at what happened. Tell me how you could have played as you did today. And with the tears still streaming down his cheeks and making little puddles on the floor, you see, my little boy was blind but today he could see me as I really am. God sees you every day as you really are. Are you doing your best? -----Bill Stout For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers; but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil. ( 1 Peter 3:12)