Promising Beginning to the year with NHL Deadlock Down to Dust

Ed, my neighbor next door, is unusually up-beat this January. Returning from Mexico a few days after New Years, Ed, was soon greeted with the joyous news that the NHL is about to come to life for a shorten season. “Canada will soon have big league hockey again and the world is back on a right course,” Ed has been saying.

According to Ed, now that I’m retired with lots of time and money, I should take him to a NHL game in Winnipeg, or Calgary if I prefer. I can drive us because Ed likes to sight see and talk and driving inter-fears with these two of his favorite activities in a car. Long car rides also make him hungry and it’s hard to snack and drive and not get the steering wheel either sticky or greasy. I told Ed I would chauffer him to either city for a price. He pays for the cost of the gas and both of our tickets into the game. I also offered to give him a bottle of water and a good supply of junk food for our trip. I think that I have offered Ed, an outstanding deal but we are into a deadlock. I would be willing to negotiate a deal with Ed but it seems Ed isn’t ready to return to any talks soon about our NHL excursion. The way I see it – time is on my side as I have lots of it now and Ed doesn’t.

Deadlocks seem pretty common in life. Each side has an expressed position and neither side is open to compromise or a change in their position. Deadlocks are standstills or standoffs as the opposed forces won’t budge. The deadlock Jesus had with Satan went from standstill to break through and victory for Jesus. Their standoff was played out in the desert. Thankfully Jesus could out talk and outsmart the devil for the victory of good over evil. Sadly, the devil can all too often shoot the rest us down with temptations for the victory of evil over good.

The first temptation of Satan challenged a starving Jesus to turn stones into bread if he was the Son of God. Although Jesus had the power and authority of God he never used it to show off. If we know who we are we need not be tempted to prove it to others. Jesus told the tempter, “Man does not live by bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.”

Next the tempter took Jesus to a high point of the temple and told him to jump off if he was the Son of God for angels would catch him or keep him from harm. Jesus as the Son of God refused to prove it to Satan. He told the devil, “Do not put the Lord your God to the test.”

Finally the devil took Jesus to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms and their splendor. He said that it can all be yours if you will bow down and worship me. Jesus answered, “Away from me Satan! For it is written: Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.” Thankfully with God good overcomes evil.

 

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