Chances

Wrongway Riegels

It’s with great trepidation I welcome back football season. I won’t be able to touch the remote control without fear of losing a hand and the men in my life will go into their yearly transfixed state of mind. I am, however the perpetual cheerleader for the men in my life. No longer outfitted in those cute, tiny miniskirts but cheering on their teams as always. Go Get-em Fairview Knights, Rock On LSU Tigers, Stun-em Faith Christian Eagles, Go Buffs! Hit em high, hit em low, where they go? We don’t know! It will probably take me all week to come up with a cheer for next week end. I did come across a story I remember hearing about for years. It will be familiar to most of you.

On New Year's Day, 1929, Georgia Tech played the University of California in the Rose Bowl. In that game a man named Roy Riegels recovered a fumble for California. Somehow, he became confused and started running 65 yards in the wrong direction. One of his own teammates, Benny Lom, outdistanced him and downed him just before he scored for the opposing team. When California attempted to punt, Tech blocked the kick and scored a safety which was the ultimate margin of victory.

That strange play came in the first half, and everyone who was watching the game was asking the same question: "What will Coach Nibbs Price do with Roy Riegels in the second half?" The men filed off the field and went into the dressing room. They sat down on the benches and on the floor, all but Riegels. He put his blanket around his shoulders, sat down in a corner, put his face in his hands, and cried like a baby.

If you have played football, you know that a coach usually has a great deal to say to his team during half time. That day Coach Price was quiet. No doubt he was trying to decide what to do with Riegels. Then the timekeeper came in and announced that there were three minutes before playing time.

Coach Price looked at the team and said simply, "Men the same team that played the first half will start the second." The players got up and started out, all but Riegels. He did not budge. The coach looked back and called to him again; still he didn't move.

Coach Price went over to where Riegels sat and said, "Roy, didn't you hear me? The same team that played the first half will start the second." Then Roy Riegels looked up and his cheeks were wet with a strong man's tears.

"Coach," he said, "I can't do it to save my life. I've ruined you, I've ruined the University of California, I've ruined myself. I couldn't face that crowd in the stadium to save my life."

Then Coach Price reached out and put his hand on Riegel's shoulder and said to him: "Roy, get up and go on back; the game is only half over." And Roy Riegels went back, and those Tech men will tell you that they have never seen a man play football as Roy Riegels played that second half.

A pearl to string: Jesus offers us the chance to start anew - clean and fresh. No matter how badly we've blown it, no matter how many times we've failed, we can start over. Today is the day for a fresh start. Get back in the game! Your second half has just started.
“His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness”. Lamentations 3:22-23

The Lord is the Victor
You are loved,
Lyndi