It was the bottom of the 9th inning and the Daytona Cubs were trailing the Jupiter Hammerjacks 2-0. Most of the game was rather uninspiring. As we approached the last few innings a Cubs fan sitting nearby would start chanting out encouragements to the team saying "Let's go Cubbies" or "Here we go Cubbies, here we go!". My husband and I thought maybe this distracted the players more than helping them. The closer we got to the end of the game the more he would shout out to the team.

So now, here we were at the bottom of the ninth. To me and many others, the situation seemed hopeless. Many fans left early concluding the Cubs were already defeated and trying to avoid the inevitable traffic crush of cars leaving when the game was over. I would have to say we were part of this unbelieving group and were only staying to see the fireworks show at the end of the game. The Cubs had two men on base and they advanced a base when the catcher flubbed a pitch. The fan became more and more vocal, even standing and swaying. The folks in the grandstand began joining in too ...."Let's go Cubbies!" "Let's go Cubbies!" There were 2 outs and the batter had two strikes against him. The cheering intensified throughout the final pitches and the umpire's calls. Then came a pitch and the batter nailed it, sending a line drive out along 1st base. The Hammerjacks scurried and the Cubs base runners came home. Total pandemonium broke out as the Cubs cinched the game 3-2!!

With a dropped jaw I paused to consider what had just happened. I realized the faith and persistance of the loyal Cubs fan paid off. He stormed the gates of some kind of baseball heaven and like the parable of the persistent widow, would not relent until his petition was answered. So while John and I erroneously thought he was not helping the team, in fact he was. It was a lesson in what a persistent faith could accomplish.

Another thought I had was that the Fan Man was like some kind of Angel in the Infield (we were really close to home plate). He kept encouraging his assigned team, cheering them on, letting them know he had faith that they could do that which seemed impossible so that in the end, against all odds, the victory was won!!

Are we listening to our guardian angels as they root for us, egging us on towards our personal victories? Are we storming the gates of heaven with our petitions for ourselves, our families, our nation, etc. with the persistence like that of the widow in the gospel account? Think upon these things when victory seems elusive in your life; listen closely so you will hear your angel chanting "Here we go (your name), here we go!"