Thursday morning I clicked on the radio to catch a glimpse at the top news and weather stories in the Mile High City. Instead, I was fed a steady diet of Chicago Cubs related updates. Even in Denver.
Smiles pushed through the airwaves as the good news was shared. The Cubs are World Series Champions.
The magnitude of the buzz is transcendent. Even for Cleveland Indian fans there’s a modicum of comfort knowing that their team was a part of history (and it doesn’t hurt that the Cleveland Cavaliers won the NBA championship in June).
The victory parade in downtown Chicago is expected to attract over 2 million participants. A unified celebration that crosses every traditional boundary (with the possible exception of White Sox and Cardinal fans).
Not only were “Northsiders” hungry for good news, for victory, for an end to the curse… but it would seem that the entire country wanted a dose as well. The Cubs won. The drought is over.
Good news.
A transcendent message.
News that only becomes good because it’s true.
Years (108 to be exact) of waiting and wishful thinking couldn’t manufacture good news. It simply wasn’t enough for the Cubs and Cubs fans to want to be the best… they needed Anthony Rizzo to squeeze the throw from Kris Bryant to ensure the final out had been secured.
The Cubs are World Series Champions because they scored more runs than their opponent in the decisive 7th game.
And to some degree… more than Cubs fans celebrated. (See previous note about the White Sox and Cardinals.)
Good news. Our world is starved for it.
I have no illusions that God was cheering for the Cubs… but I could imagine that He was hoping that this infinitesimal portion of transcendent good news would adjust our trajectory to the ultimate Good News.
Good News that is only good news because it’s true.
Good News that lives in the light of victory.
Good News that outscores the opponent.
Good News that satisfies a hungry heart.
Good News worth celebrating.
Good News that overpowers the darkness.
For those of us who have followed the Cubs for decades, we can vaguely hear the voice of Harry Caray shouting, “Cubs Win, Cubs Win!”
But only as an amateur warm-up act to the real victory pronouncement…
He will swallow up death forever; and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from all faces, and the reproach of his people he will take away from all the earth, for the LORD has spoken. It will be said on that day, “Behold, this is our God; we have waited for him, that he might save us. This is the LORD; we have waited for him; let us be glad and rejoice in his salvation.” (Isaiah 25:8-9 ESV)
The waiting is over.
Tears wiped away.
An end to the curse.
Good News.
“Let us be glad and rejoice in his salvation.”
Jesus.
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