The Art Of Staying Open

The Art of Staying Open

After all these years, I still get a lump in my throat when I hear the words, “Now forming at the north end of Kyle Field,” along with the whoops and whistles preceding the first few notes of the “Aggie War Hymn.” (Other schools have fight songs; my alma mater has a war hymn.) When the Texas A&M University Ags left the Big 12 Conference for the reliably fierce SEC (Southeastern Conference), I suspect I was not alone in anticipating a rather bleak and bruising season of big-time college football. Was I ever surprised!

These “Rough tough! Real stuff!” guys just didn’t lie down. Ever. At the end of twelve weeks, less than ten points separated them from an undefeated season. There was no game they were out of. And with a scrambling, not-so-big, and very green freshman at quarterback, even busted plays could end well if the receivers stayed open long enough. This made me appreciate the art of staying open in other ways too—ways that had nothing to do with football.

Instead of despairing when God closes the door on a piece of work, a coveted project, or a potential relationship, I would be wise to remind myself who is calling the plays and quarterbacking our tight team of two. Instead of resigning myself to a future of numbing sameness and routine, I might instead expect the unexpected at any moment. After all, my God is great at this kind of stuff.

He’s the God who confounded the Canaanite armies and caused a fortified city’s walls to collapse on a cue from a marching band. He made a king of a simple shepherd boy, spoke from a bush that burned, gave orders through a donkey’s mouth, and even made the sun stand still to aid a struggling army. Rain or drought? No problem. Stay open. Believe. Redemption through an unwed mother, carrying a child from God, who was God? Stay open. Believe. And a living, breathing Savior who spent two days dead and buried? Stay open and believe. He has you in his sights.

But when the time arrived that was set by God the Father, God sent his Son, born among us of a woman, born under the conditions of the law so that he might redeem those of us who have been kidnapped by the law. Thus we have been set free to experience our rightful heritage.

Galatians 4:4-5, MSG