Who Do You Play For?

06 Jul Who Do You Play For?

So after watching the women’s World Cup soccer game final, I had a stream of thoughts pour in. While we were celebrating, the Japanese were literally in tears. (Please understand i am NOT saying we should not rejoice.) I just began to put myself in all those games I played where I left in tears or embarrassed because of silly mistakes, but I was also remembering the times I walked off the field laughing about our victory and the other team’s grief. As I watched Japan’s goalie my heart went out to her, you know she is going to suffer some sort of lack for her mistake and for the amount of goals scored on her. Her teammates were great to her, but I wish sportsmanship was greater and the other team would have embraced her as well. Which led to my heart. How often am I aware of someone else’s suffering, especially in my victory? How sensitive am I with what I post on Facebook, knowing that I have friends who suffer from ptsd, chronic illness, loved ones with dementia, or even those with political differences. Why is it that hate and anger are so quick to be the first responders? Do we even know how to begin to love others above ourselves? A true athlete does not just wear the title, they play hard, they play honest, they play good, they encourage the other team as well as their own even when the outcome is not in their favor. Yes celebrate! Winning is good! But don’t forget the other team, the sacrifices they made. What kind of player are you? Are you the kind of player that gives the sport a bad name, a one man team desiring all the glory, or are you like the USA captain, sharing her title with her teammate, or the player who lets the ref know he tripped on his own feet, not by the other player. How much better off this world would be had we not lost the understanding of loving others?