As you know, Lord,
that I’m writing this on Sunday afternoon,
before the Super Bowl is played,
so I don’t yet know if its the Seahawks or the Pats
who’ll take the trophy this year…
But I do know that come this Monday morning
there’ll be plenty of happy people
– and plenty of sad people, too…
I know about that, Lord,
because I’ve had a lot wins in my life
and my fair share of losses, too:
happy times and sad times…
This morning, Lord,
I want to offer you all my victories
along with my gratitude
All good gifts come from you, Lord,
so I know that when I’m in the winning column
it’s because your hand has guided me, blessed me,
strengthened and graced me…
Thank you, Lord!
And I offer you this morning, Lord,
all my losses and failures,
all my disappointments, large and small:
especially the times when I’ve failed
when, apart from your wisdom and counsel,
I offer you the joy of victory, Lord,
and the pain of defeat:
I pray you’ll help me find at all times, Lord,
You yourself, Lord, knew the agony of the Cross
before rising up in the victory of life over death:
draw me into the mystery of your dying and rising
that in my victories I might die to my self
and in my losses find the path to new and deeper life…
Whoever wins the Super Bowl, Lord,
Seattle or New England,
help us put our wins and losses in perspective:
and only by walking the way of the Cross
are life’s most important victories won…
Amen.
