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Underdog

You may have heard that there is a football game today. This year's Super Bowl features a matchup between the undefeated, machine-like, possibly arrogant New England Patriots, and the scrappy, cinderella-like, overwhelming underdogs New York Football Giants.

I will be cheering for the Giants. It pains me to admit it. No respectable Cowboys fan would cheer for the Giants unless extreme circumstances called for it. I have two reasons for this shocking show of allegiance. First, I have good friends in Sherman who are Giants fans, and I forgave them years ago for this foul offense. It would tickle me to death to be able to see them during the game, and after if the Giants win.

But my second reason for cheering for the Giants is because I can relate to them more. What about you? Most of us have never experienced the high level of success and excellence that the Patriots have this year. Did you have a flawless season? Did you trounce every opponent and obstacle you faced this past year? Did you do it in a way that made you look bored because it was so easy? Did you break every record imaginable in the process? Did you do it with a golden-boy Quarterback who dates some of the most beautiful women in the world? Are they calling you the best to ever play the game?

If so, then please stop reading now. The rest of us know that we can't relate to the Patriots, but the Giants are more our speed. The Giants' story gives us hope. Why? Because we know what it is like to struggle, to fail, to have to work hard to overcome setbacks and mistakes. We are familiar with playing with pain. We know what it is like to be made fun of and doubted, even hated from time to time. We have faced the long odds and have had to keep going. Everyone says there is no chance. Las Vegas is betting against us. Some talking heads are even saying we should cheer for the Patriots just so we can see historical greatness in our lifetime. Frankly, I would rather see an upset. Why? Because if the Giants can beat the odds and the Patriots, then there might be hope for the rest of us. We love the underdog because we feel like that ourselves.

Scripture tells us that God has a soft spot in His heart for underdogs. Think about Moses vs. Pharaoh, Joshua vs. Jericho, Gideon vs. the Midianites, David vs. Goliath, Jeremiah vs. everybody, Peter and John vs. the Sanhedrin, Paul vs. heretics and Rome, and so forth. God has a way of taking what appears to be foolish nonsense and turning it into an occassion for His glory. I don't know if God will be watching the Super Bowl tonight since the Cowboys aren't playing, but if He is, I like to think, with a sly grin, He will be cheering for the underdogs.

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