Yellow Cards and Plans...

   I confess, I am not a big soccer fan. To me it has always seemed like a 90 minute game (maybe more) with rare instances of scoring. It was mostly about running, up and down, up and down and then more up and down.

   But I have followed the Women's World Cup matches over the past few days, reading about it in the paper and on the Internet, even watching the games on TV. It was more about watching a local player on the world stage than anything else, but I did get caught up in the drama of the games.

   Morgan Brian, from right here in St. Simons, was on the US Women's National Team, one of the best players in the country, and also the youngest on this team. She had starred in college at Virginia and had been drafted to play in the pros. As good as she was, she was a substitute on this team, and her playing time in the first few games of the cup was limited.

   I'm sure Morgan's plans were to be a contributor on this team, but her role just seemed to be one of support and readiness to play if needed.

   Then came two yellow cards to a US player and an automatic suspension for the next game. The US coach, Jill Ellis, inserted Morgan into the starting lineup, and the rest is history.

   Different players, even ones playing the same position, have different strengths, so the US coach changed her strategy, along with changing players.

   A headline on the Internet from Sports Illustrated:

Brian's ascension settles midfield, fuels USA's run to World Cup title

   A change of plans, or, as the magazine put it, a retooling of the strategy because of a personnel change, made the difference in the performance of the whole team.

   USA 1 China 0
   USA 2 Germany 0
   USA 5 Japan 2 (and the World Cup to the USA)

   I am reminded of a verse in Jeremiah 29:

"For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

   Coach Ellis had a plan for the tournament. It was a good plan and worked for the early competition. But that plan changed, and. according to the article, that made all the difference in performance.

   I am reminded that our plans need to be held in soft hands. Not clinging and grasping hands, but ones able to let go and embrace a change.

   God can and does help us plan, but sometimes what we think are our best plans for life are just that, our plans, not His.

   His are the best, for us and for all those around us.

   Hold on to plans with soft and flexible hands. God can bring change.

   Even with the penalty for two yellow cards.