Kandi Farris: We're all in this together

Seconds left. The other team is one up. You've got the ball. Like a hot potato, you aim and toss it for all you're worth. The screaming crowd stands to its feet.

Then as the ball glides through the air, silence fills the gym for what seems an eternity. All eyes are keyed on the goal at the end of the court. It's just like in the movies, the long breathless pause and then

The ball circles the rim and one little breath of air would push it into the net, but instead the ball falls off the outer rim. Buzzer rings. Game over. You lost.

You lost, but not just you. The whole team sits devastated with their heads in their hands mourning what could have been, yet wasn't.

Your heart feels myriad emotions: anger, frustration, angst and a touch of embarrassment. You want a do-over. You've made that same shot before. You could do it again. But, hey, it's not happening. This one is in the books.

The heat of the gym begins to swallow you and your body is numb with pain. Your ears fill with "That's all right. It's just a game. Next time, buddy."

Next time? This is right now. How do I live through the moments in the locker room reliving the "if only"? We would be celebrating and someone else's head would be downcast. Someone else would be numb with pain.

Life is often learned on the court, the field, the track or whatever venue of play is your choice. Not everyone gets a little something, something. Life does offer days of winning and days of losing. Life is messy. Life has pain and life has failure, and trying to mask it with pretty platitudes or placing blame on someone else will teach us nothing.

I love these words spoken over a young man who just missed the goal that would have sent them to next game of the playoffs: "Yes, you could have won the game, but you didn't lose it. There were four quarters of play. We are a team."

That'll preach. This is not a lone ranger life. It's concerted effort. It's a team project. We need each other. Our giftings, our talents and abilities are different and should work together like a fine-oiled machine. In faith, the battle ultimately is the Lord's.

There may be days that when the buzzer goes off, it looks like we missed the mark. Then comes the overwhelming and humbling reminder that we are not in charge of the universe. We are simply in the game, giving our best. Persevering. Confident. Dependent. Compassionate, loving God and others. We simply are to seize God and seize the day.

Hold on to this: "But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain." (1 Corinthians 15:57-58)

When the final buzzer cuts the air, God wins, y'all.

Kandi Farris, a freelance correspondent, also is a speaker on matters of faith and values.

This story was originally published March 11, 2016 at 3:31 PM with the headline "Kandi Farris: We're all in this together ."