Not too long ago, my then eleven-year-old nephew sporting a dejected face told me he was done praying to God.  When I asked why, he told me that he prayed that God help his soccer team win the championship.  However, they lost.

I listened sympathetically how God was on the “Raider’s side” and not his “Knights side.”  Having witnessed the game I responded, “God had nothing to do with that loss.  It was the goalie.”  Continuing I added, “Get rid of the goalie, and keep God.”

My nephew along with many other athletes, politicians, and nations warring with other governments all pray that God be on their side and lead them to victory.  Here's what they may be thinking: If we're on God's side, we cannot fail- our victory is guaranteed.

However, no one likes to think that their side may not be God’s side.  Abraham Lincoln explained it this way: My concern is not whether God is on our side; my greatest concern is to be on God's side, for God is always right.”

Well then who is on God’s side?  Every group of believers has a symbol they point to for their beliefs: the Bible, the Book of Mormon, the Koran, the Torah, and many others.   Each group fights intensely and splits over what each dogma and doctrine mean and to protect their personal identity.  But few respect what each truth is actually demanding. 

They can quote a truth word for word and declare their beliefs forcefully. However, they find difficulty getting up every day and living it.  Instead, they sharing a multitude of excuses why it can’t be done in this particular situation.

When it comes to wordiness, Richard Rohr once wrote: If you want to tell a lie and get away with it, tell a big lie that people want to hear-and tell it with passion.  This will usually work.  Doesn’t that sound familiar?

Christ often describes who’s on his side.  When asked, who was a true believer-- Jesus answered clearly: “Anyone who hears the word of God and keeps it.”  Or look at the fruits of one’s actions.”  He meant: Are these the actions that flow from my words?” Another time he replied: “Those who do the will of my Father” and those “who love God and their neighbor as yourself.”

He often pointed to the actions in people’s scriptural stories: The Good Samaritan, the father of the Prodigal son; the woman who washed Jesus’ feet at dinner and the crucified good thief.  For Jesus, it is always actions and few words.  St. Francis of Assisi cautions believers, “Preach often sometimes use words.”

Jesus liked to remind us, that God’s actions and human values aren’t the same, but he wished his creation would imitate them.  If we attempted them and were successful that is well and good, and if we attempted them and failed at times, that also is well and good.  If we try, Jesus will help. If we stumble, Jesus will shower us with his mercy and grace to try again.  Both would hear Jesus say: “My child, you are not far from God’s kingdom, and you are on my team!”