Memphis Grizzles and the Advent Season

Midway through the second quarter, the Grizzles trailed by a whopping twenty-two points. They were being outplayed in every aspect of the game. The Miami Heat, even without front man, Shaquille O’Neal was shooting 68% from the field and teaching the Grizzles a lesson about the fundaments of basketball. But Memphis fans should have hope. We always find a way to stay in there and sure enough, by halftime we had clawed our way back to be down 57-48. By the middle of the 4^th Quarter, the Memphis Grizzles finally looked like they were about to play some basketball and in the final minutes of the game, after being down 22 points, Memphis took a commanding four point lead. I couldn’t believe my eyes. I had almost written this game off as another loss and here we were about to win. I found myself on the edge of my couch, yelling at the TV with two of my best friends realizing exactly what I love about basketball. Rudy Gay gets fouled twice, splitting both sets of free throws and with 1.8 seconds left in the game, Memphis had a two point lead 97-95. This game is as good as over!

Memphis sends in defense expert Dahntay Jones to cover Dwayne Wade. 1.8 seconds is about enough time for one dribble and a shot, if you’re quick. Memphis has their best defensive player on Wade so I lean back in my seat and smile. I have had so many expectations for our Memphis team this year. My spirit has been marked with anticipation and longing. There is the yearning for the Grizzles to finally be delivered out of a playoff season with out a win. The ball goes into ex-Grizzly James Posey who without even looking at the basket, spins and from 26 feet and over the arms of Mike Miller, Posey throws up a prayer. The clock expired fractions of a second before the ball floated cleanly through the rim. The shot was nothing but net and another heart breaking loss for the Memphis Grizzles.

It only takes one good sports franchise to really bring a city together. The Redskins did it in DC years ago and for the last three years Memphians have been taking a little pride. But after going to the playoffs for a 3^rd straight year and failing to get a win, there has been a lot of expectation this year. Everyone has been anticipating the skills of rookies Rudy Gay and Kyle Lowery and 2^nd year newbies Hakim Warrick and Lawrence Roberts. We follow the Commercial Appeal in preparation of the season and long for nothing more than a playoff win. And now after slipping to a record of 4-12, the worst record in the NBA, the Grizzles have nothing to do but anticipate the arrival of Pau Gasol, our franchise player, to bring us out of exile in the NBA, and put us back into contention for a chance at the playoffs.

Welcome to the season of Advent. There is more to Advent then opening those fun little calendars with little chocolates behind the windows. For me, Advent is a lot like this years Grizzles basketball season. The word Advent means “coming” or “arrival”. The focus of the entire season is the celebration of the birth of Jesus and in anticipation of his coming again. Advent is marked by a spirit of expectation, of anticipation, of preparation, and of longing. We desire to be separated from the evils of this world just as the Israelites longed to be lifted out of oppression in ancient Egypt. Advent means anticipation of a King who will rule with truth and justice and righteousness over His people and in His creation. Advent reminds us of the hope of a Messiah to rule this world in this way.

And as we are waiting, we must prepare for that coming, which brings about what I find to be the most important quality of advent. Advent is a time to reflect, in order to prepare for the coming of Christ, we must reflect on all areas of our own lives. We look at our “season” and try to find a way to improve or try to grasp the new ways that God is working through us. This Advent, I invite you all to join Grab a “Day by Day” reflection book, or read a Chicken Soup for the Soul everyday. Or maybe take one quality that you would like to change about yourself and focus on that each week.

I want to share with you an Advent Reflection by Dennis Bratcher that I really enjoy. It is truly a humbling experience to read back through the Old Testament and see how frail and imperfect all the "heroes" actually are. Abraham, the coward who cannot believe the promise. Jacob, the cheat who struggles with everybody. Joseph, the immature and arrogant teen. Moses, the impatient murderer who cannot wait for God. Gideon, the cowardly Baal-worshipper. Samson, the womanizing drunk. David, the power abusing adulterer. Solomon, the unwise wise man. Hezekiah, the reforming king who could not quite go far enough. And finally, a very young Jewish girl from a small village in a remote corner of a great empire.

It never ceases to amaze me why God could not have chosen "better" people to do His work in the world. Yet if God can use them, and reveal Himself through them in such marvelous ways, it means that He might be able to use me, inadequate, and unwise, and too often lacking in faith that I am. And it means that I need to be careful that I do not in my own self-righteousness put limits on what God can do with the most unlikely of people in the most unlikely of circumstances. I think that is part of the wonder of the Advent Season.