Read: Ephesians 4:29; 1 Thessalonians 5:11; Hebrews 3:13
It has happened to everyone. When not paying attention, we trip over our own feet. When sitting down, we might miss the chair. Those little annoying and embarrassing things we do and then look around to see if anyone noticed. Mostly harmless and not too embarrassing; however, what if your blunder was seen by thousands of people and ultimately might have caused your team to lose the Rose Bowl game?
That's what happened to Roy Riegels on January 1, 1929. Back then, the NFL wasn't renowned as it is today, and it is hard to believe, but there was only one bowl game. The Rose Bowl, and all who were interested in football were listening to it on the radio if they weren't there in person. Riegels' team, the California Golden Bears was playing Georgia Tech. Riegels grabbed a fumble in the second quarter, and the center took off. All was going well until he turned to avoid being tackled and began to run the wrong way. He was certain the touchdown would be his until one of his own teammates, Benny Lom brought him down, preventing a safety. When halftime was about to end, and it was time for the teams to get back on the field, Riegels told his coach, Nibbs Price that he wasn't going back out. He believed he had done too much damage to his team and coach, and he said he couldn't face all those people in the stands. Who wouldn't feel that way? All those sayings such as "if at first you don't succeed, try try again" wouldn't be much of a balm at a time like that.
Here's where the encouragement comes in. Coach Nibbs' words. He told Riegels that the game wasn't over. There was still a half to go. No berating or platitudes about how no one really cared about his mistake. Simply truthful talk that urged him to do what he could do for the team because the game was not over. Riegels did go back out and played a good second half. In a movie, the Golden Bears would have won, but life isn't a movie, is it? Even so, the next day the coach spoke about the incident to the reporters.
He said that the mistake Riegels made was something that anyone could do. No sugar coating simply a reminder that each of us because we are human sometimes do it wrong. Roy Riegels wasn't treated as if he were the only one who could have ever made that blunder. It must have been encouraging not to hear mocking words? Someone else could have been in that same boat.
We all make mistakes. Some are seen and known by more people than we would like.
The Lord tells us in 1 Thessalonians 5:11 and Hebrews 3:13 to encouraged one another. The same command is repeated in Hebrews 10:25, and our words are to be encouraging to those who are listening, Ephesians 4:29. Why is this important? Perhaps it is because every-day life, our flesh patterns and the evil one hand us so many opportunities for discouragement. It is so easy to see what we have done poorly. We are often reminded of our sins and mistakes of the past. Or our lack of prayer. Or how slowly we are growing. And on and on it goes, and if we focus on "running the wrong way", we can easily become so weary that we get off track, missing what God has for us today.
Enter Nibbs price's encouragement. No berating. The "first half" is over, but the game is not. If we need to repent, God says to do it so we can receive cleansing and the ability to walk on, 1 John 1:9. Paul said that he did one thing. He let go of the past and pressed on toward finishing the race that was ahead of him, Philippians 3:12-14. And Paul had a great deal of remembering that could have occupied his time. Times when he had opposed Jesus.
What if we keep remembering our past sins or inadequacies? Riegels was known as "Wrong Way Riegels" for the rest of his life. Even though at first, he was sensitive about that nickname, he learned to smile and laugh at himself. He went on to live a successful life. In fact, in 1993, he was inducted into the Rose Bowl Hall of Fame. Even before having received that honor, he wrote to a high school kid who also ran the wrong way. Encouraging him the way his coach had encouraged him.
James said in verse 1 of James 3 that we all stumble in many ways. How true that is. That's another way of saying what Coach Price said. What happened to Roy Riegels could happen to anyone. Often we, like Peter did, think we are beyond falling into pit of sin. A dangerous assumption to make since the Lord knows that we are dust, Psalm 103:14. Because of that, we can encourage one another since we know that each of us is cut out of the same cloth. There is no reason to look down on another believer. Just the opposite. We need one another, especially as we see the darkness around us.
It is my understanding that the beautiful Redwoods live for so long because their roots intertwine. Making it possible for them to withstand very strong winds. Their uniting gives them stamina in the storm. What a picture of encouragement. Words that build up. Received and then given to others. Rooted in Jesus' encouragement so we can encourage one another.
Comments