Jennifer - Part Two

This is the continuation of a previous post on 8/23/2005...

Following Jennifer's funeral, the students of the small, lakeshore community school resumed the customary pursuits of adolescence. Though the question "Why?" will likely accompany them throughout their entire lives, some found comfort in imagining that, because she was the good person she was, God had wanted Jennifer for a special purpose known only to him.

No picture of a Friday night in the fall would be complete for me without including the stadium lights, cheering crowds and marching bands that surround high school football. The Laker football team asked me to be their chaplain and I graciously accepted. It meant I got to ride on the team bus and watch the games from the sidelines. Everyone expected LMC to have a good season under their new head coach but no one could have predicted the magic about to unfold.

Jennifer's death forged a mystical bond among this group of kids and I felt a part of it. I was asked to lead the team in prayer before, during and after each game. In my prayer, I tried to reassure them that in Jennifer they had a friend who now knew what it was all about, who experienced what we could only speculate about. The first two games were big wins, outscoring their opponents 50-12. Game three was a struggle. The visiting Lakers were outplayed and late in the game were lucky to have the ball one last time in a scoreless game. Following a sideline prayer, the kids took the field and scored on a Hail Mary pass into the end zone as time expired, winning 8-0.

LMC breezed through its next four games, outscoring opponents 184-18. Their next foe took them away to play their rival for the league championship. Trailing 14-18 with time running out, it looked as though the dream season was about to come to an end. I was again called upon for a sideline prayer before the team returned to the field. As in game three, an impossible, miraculous razzle dazzle play nailed the win, 20-18. The team and fans were jubilant in celebration, but paused in the end zome in prayer to thank God - and Jennifer - for making their season possible.

The last game of the season was to qualify for the state playoffs. The ratings did not favor the Lakers making post season play but they needed a win to have any chance at an invitation. Once again LMC found itself down 0-3 late in the game. For the third time a sideline prayer and a miraculous play pulled the game out, 6-3. Luck finally ran out, however, as their perfect season did not earn them their berth for a bid at a state championship. If they had, I have no doubt this group of kids would have won it all.

The kids believed that God - and Jennifer - was with them that fall and that was all the inspiration they needed to experience the impossible.

A question to ponder as you consider this post is...

When have you experienced the impossible in your life and what was your inspiration?

May peace be with you and yours...

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