Published on 02/4/2008

When you win, the world adores you. When you lose, the world forgets all about you. (Quick: Who lost last year's Super Bowl?)...Only God's love is unconditional. Is your job?

Commentary

That's what New York Giants receiver David Tyree did last night, catching the most improbable throw of one of the most improbable games in history. You've seen it replayed 20 times already--the receiver jumps as high as he can, stretches as far as he can, snatches the football out of the night air, pins it against his helmet, and holds on for a reception. A few plays later, with 35 seconds to go in the game, the Giants score the winning touchdown. The 12 point underdogs to the Patriots achieve one of the greatest victories in Super Bowl history.

Imagine that you're the quarterback who threw the pass. A month ago the sports world was dismissing you as mediocre at best. To get to that play you would have to beat the quarterback who will start next Sunday's Pro Bowl (Tony Romo), then the quarterback who would have started the Pro Bowl if he had not withdrawn (Bret Favre), then the quarterback who won the Most Valuable Player trophy this year (Tom Brady) and the undefeated Patriots, already being called the greatest team in history. Who could be prouder than Eli Manning this morning?

The answer is his father, Archie Manning. Archie was perhaps the best quarterback never to play on a decent team. He had the atrocious luck to toil most of his career for the New Orleans Saints, the most hapless team in football at the time. Now his son Peyton has won a Super Bowl playing quarterback for the Indianapolis Colts, followed by his son Eli playing quarterback for the New York Giants. Who could be prouder than Archie Manning this morning?

The answer is his Father and yours. This essay would have been completely different if David Tyree had dropped that ball pinned against his helmet, or if Eli had overthrown Plaxico Burress in the end zone, or if Tom Brady had somehow come back to win the game for the Patriots. Super Bowl accolades are the most conditional of honors. When you win, the world adores you. When you lose, the world forgets all about you. (Quick: Who lost last year's Super Bowl?)

Only God's love is unconditional. Is your job? There are things I could write in this paragraph which would get me fired at the church. Is your family? As much as my wife and sons love me, there are things I could do this morning which would shatter our relationship forever. But "God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8). Nothing will change his love for you today, win or lose. Why is this fact so important? Let's continue tomorrow.