Fly, Eagles, Fly

With the Super Bowl win of the Eagles last night, it would strange to write a blog and not mention it. Although I am personally not an Eagles fan, it is delightful to see how much my friends are enjoying this long-awaited championship. Despite all the press, Philadelphia fans (particularly for the Eagles) are a passionate group when it comes to their team.

​As I consider it, I think the desire to celebrate is wired into us. When good things happen, we naturally feel better. When our dreams and aspirations come true, we love it. There is something inside us that has to come out. There is a reason there were fireworks going off and people yelling outside my house at 10:30 last night! There is a desire to celebrate and to share that celebration with others.

I have lived in this area for over 20 years and have seen the pain and angst as the Eagles lost, sometimes in gut wrenching fashion, year after year. There was a sense of hope unfilled that has now been satisfied. But for a long time, some of my friends just stopped cheering. They stopped investing themselves in the team because they did not want to be disappointed again. Some others were cautiously hopeful, but just didn’t want to let themselves get too excited.
I am left wondering if that is too often my approach with God. I celebrate too rarely. I expect too little. I don’t want to be disappointed again, or not have my hopes met. I’d rather stay reserved then risk all that.

But those that follow Jesus are to be joyful, celebrating people. That’s because unlike much of life, our circumstances do not dictate our joy. We can have it no matter what because of the God who loves us and gave us life. So, Eagles fans, enjoy and celebrate. Let it remind you of your ability to be a celebrating person.