Like most of the nation right now, I’m fully immersed in World Cup fever. It’s hard not to be after the breathless affair the Americans had yesterday against Algeria.
I’ve watched replay after replay, pondered the goal’s historic significance, and reveled in what a glorious sporting moment it was. Last night, after seeing it for about the thirtieth time, I recognized that Landon Donovan’s last-minute goal is actually quite a thought-provoking spiritual parallel. One that’s not in any way an original idea - C.S. Lewis (of Chronic(what)cles of Narnia fame) and Philip Yancey (another well-known Christian author) both have written about it, and the fact I’ve recently read their words is why I made the connection.
A precise sequence of events had to transpire in order to make that goal as dramatic and exhilarating as it was. Algeria’s keeper fumbles an easy shot, allowing Slovenia to win and capture 3 points. England’s keeper also fumbles away an easy shot, giving the U.S. a fighting chance at advancing. England plays lackluster soccer, leading to a 0-0 draw with underdogs Algeria. The famous phantom foul that disallows the game-winning American goal against Slovenia. The two devastating early goals in that game. Even in this most recent game, the disallowed goal on an unjust offside call in the first half, followed by a maddening succession of near misses. If just one of those things goes a different way, there is no tension or drama left in the dying minutes of yesterdays game, no outburst of sheer joy upon the game winner. The group standings would have been different, meaning the U.S. need of a goal would have been eliminated. Every one of those events, and every other along the path to the final minutes against Algeria contributed to produce that moment. Some of those moments were grossly unjust (I’m looking at you, Coulibaly), and downright agonizing. The phantom calls. The near misses. But Donovan’s strike changed all that; in a sense it redeemed it all. All the prior events - especially the injustices, failures, and pain - were now able to be viewed through a completely different lens, and in fact they made that redemptive event so poignant and powerful. Viewing the past 3 games through what happened in the 91st minute yesterday makes all those heartaches and agonies worth it.
Our lives are full of painful, agonizing, unjust, even mundane and random events that often seem to lack connection or meaning. We face injustices, we make epic failures, we get broken and hurt. But the right redemptive event can change all that, and in fact make them all, in some way, worth it.
As a follower of Jesus - based on His death and resurrection, and the freedom and new life it purchased for me and all those who believe in Him - I believe that redemptive event has happened, and it is available for all humanity. It happened in the terrible moments of Jesus’ death and the glorious moments of His resurrection. I believe that I will, upon death, enter into a glorious new life - one filled with an eternal perfect union with my Creator and Savior, in a place of unspeakable joy and beauty, free from pain and heartache. And I believe that when I get there, all the injustices and failures of my life will be fully seen through the lens of Jesus’ redemption, and that kaleidoscope of events will be painted by it. I’ll be able to look back through that lens and say, somehow, “It was all worth it.”
Landon Donovan’s goal changed the agonies of the group stage for the U.S. from terrible heartaches to tremendously exciting developments on the pathway to glory. Jesus’ redemptive work changes the pains, failures, sins, and injustices of life from sufferings and heartaches to tremendously exciting developments on our pathway to Glory.
Often we ask the question, “why do suffering and evil exist?” It’s an uncomfortable question with no real satisfying answer. But life sometimes produces an event or moment that allows us to glimpse a bit of deeper truth beneath the surface. I think Donovan’s memorable goal can serve as a parallel to this deeper, spiritual reality. Suffering exists, we don’t really know why, but redemption certainly transforms those sufferings into sweetness. And somehow it will all be made worth it.
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