Miracle on Earth

In the 1980 Olympic Winter Games, the United States men’s hockey team entered the competition seeded seventh. The young team was composed of amateurs and young collegiate players. The Soviet Union, a natural rival due to the Cold War, was made up of some of the best players in the world at the time. Soviet teams had a winning record in exhibition against National Hockey League teams and the Soviet national team defeated the NHL all-stars 6 to 0 just a year before. At the time, virtually all of the top players in North America were from Canada. In an exhibition match, the Soviet team defeated the United States 10 to 3. The Russians were expected to win their sixth gold medal in the last seven tournaments. Needless to say, the United States was not favored to win.
In what is considered by Sports Illustrated to be the greatest moment in sports of the 20th century, the United States defeated the Soviet team. They went on to win the gold medal in men’s hockey. It is called the “Miracle on Ice”. These types of “underdog” stories inspire us. My father considers the possibility that this moment is what leads me to be incredibly enthusiastic about hockey. At just a few months old, my father tossed me in the air in an instant of great joy and celebration. He must have loosened something in my brain, because at one point in my life, I thought of nothing more than playing professional hockey. This idea lead me to a great deal of physical injuries.
This is part of why I love the life of Jesus. Jesus entered the world humbly and without much recognition. Jesus fought incredible adversity and seemingly overwhelming odds to conquer Satan and free us from sin. Isaiah 53:7 tells us he came “like a lamb to the slaughter”. We are to mimic His life in that we must continue to struggle in order to save others, serve God, and become the people God intends us to be.