God is a Cubs Fan
If God is to be found any where, God will be found with the 'loser'.
And the Cubs are losers. At least they have been.
Look no further than the tragic history of the Cubs for their proof: they have not made it to a World Series in 71 years, let alone won a World Series in 108 years! From the billy goat to Bartman, they have been plagued by numerous close calls and 'curses' as an organization and the fans have had to endure it all along the way. What might be worse is that the fan base has embraced the team as the 'lovable losers' with many of them perpetually looking to next year.
Even with all this proof, I take it all back. God is not a Cubs fan.
Even though as a life long Cubs fan I would like to believe so, God is not a fan. I could also have easily titled this 'God is a Cleveland fan' as they haven't had it much better, not only for the Indians but because it's simply Cleveland.
The reality is God isn't a 'fan' of any sports teams, nor does God care who wins - regardless of how many prayers might be offered up for them (my adolescent self attests to this).
But there is some thing that God does resonate with in all of this. As we look to the story of God throughout history, continually we see God being found with the not good-enoughs, the outcasts, and the overlooked. So in many ways we can even say, God loves the losers and hears their cries for 'next year' to come soon in a very unique way.
Look to God's chosen people. A group of wanders who for centuries have no home, they settle only to become slaves. They are looked down on, overlooked, and taken advantage of. These people then are miraculously delivered out of their oppressors hands only to then get a taste of a promised land. Over the course of 40 years they get close but the timing just wasn't right or they get in their own way from finally entering into the promise land - over and over again. Until finally, the stars align in ways incredible ways for them and they are able to enter the land that their fathers had dreamt of and longed for.In the end, this is just a game but some thing amazing is going to happen for Chicago or Cleveland fans in the next two weeks, one of them is going to experience a glimpse of this delight. This relief that they have arrived to the place they have so longed for, the place they feel they belong. One of these teams will finally reach the promise land, while the other's ache will continue to grow.
And boy, do I hope my Cubs win.