Laura Bassett and her English soccer team were on their way to the final game of the 2015 World Cup when the ultimate nightmare became a reality. In an attempt to clear the ball from the area near her net she inadvertently kicked the ball into her own net giving the Japanese team their ticket to the final game in Vancouver against the United States. It is difficult to imagine her self loathing and remorse. She has become the poster child for all of us who have time and again not only failed at something important but actually destroyed our own dreams.
Often I have heard people speak about Satan tempting them. I would like to take the stance that all Satan has to do to defeat us is to be patient. It is merely a matter of time until we score one for the enemy. We don’t need anything other than our own human nature.
Paul, who was so ardent to be Christ-like, wrote in Romans 7, “Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me. What a wretched man I am!”
Dear Laura, welcome to the human race. The only difference between you and the rest of us is the world was watching when you became one of us. We know you will mentally play and replay that fateful moment over and over for years to come. But please forgive yourself; one of the hardest things to do. If anyone doesn’t understand that only means they are afraid of the truth about themselves.
Written by Roger Bothwell on July 6, 2015
Spring of Life, PO Box 124, St. Helena, CA 94574
Rogerbothwell.org