And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
The 2000-01 NHL season was Ray Bourque's last. His 410 goals, 1,169 assists, and 1,579 points were all (and still are) records for defensemen. He won five Norris Trophies as the league's best defenseman, was a 13-time first team all-star, and was even runner-up in Hart Trophy balloting in 1990 - a feat nearly unheard of for a defenseman. His career exploits were so great that three years before he retired, he was ranked 14th on The Hockey News' list of the 100 greatest players of all-time.
As impressive as that resume is, there was one thing missing. After playing in 1,612 regular season games, and 22 seasons, Ray Bourque still had not earned the one honor that players most crave -- the right to hoist the Stanley Cup and have his name engraved on the prestigious trophy. Those were the most games and seasons played by a player never to have won the Stanley Cup.
Bourque spent his first 20 seasons, and most of his 21st with the Boston Bruins. In 1988 and 1990, the Bruins advanced as far as the Stanley Cup Finals, only to run into the buzz saw that was the Edmonton Oilers dynasty. As much as Bourque loved playing in Boston, a disappointing season in 1999-2000 proved to him that we would not have a chance to win the Cup with the Bruins, leading to his requesting a trade. Bourque requested a trade to an East coast team, but unbeknownst to him, General Manager Harry Sinden, who also desired to see Bourque win the Cup, was closing a deal with the Colorado Avalanche. When the trade was finished, Sinden told Bourque, "This may not be your first choice, but this is the team I believe is best."
Bourque played only a handful of games with the Avalanche that season, but the team came as close as one goal from the Stanley Cup Finals, giving a lot of hope for the next season. For the 2000-01 season, Bourque was named an alternate captain, and was a key piece of the team. At 41 years old, he earned recognition as a first team all-star and was runner-up for the Norris. After winning the President's Trophy with the league's best record, the team then successfully navigated the Western Conference playoffs to reach the Stanley Cup Finals, where they faced the defending champion New Jersey Devils.
It seemed that Bourque's dream would fall short once more when the Devils took a 3-2 series lead, putting them one win away from repeating, but the Avs rallied to win games six and seven to win. It is a tradition that the league commissioner hands the Stanley Cup to the winning team captain who hoists it first, but on that night, Colorado captain Joe Sakic broke that. After receiving the Cup from Gary Bettman, Sakic immediately passed it off to Bouruqe, allowing him to raise it first, and sent him around the ice with it. Of all the players that I've seen lift that Cup, Bourque's moment is still my favorite. Following that season, Bourque retired, finally having the final piece of the puzzle.
Had Ray Bourque given up on his goal before the final game of his career, there would always be something missing. By the same token, if we give up on the Christian life before the "final game," if you will, there will be something missing from our resume. "I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus," but if I quit before I reach the finish line, I will not have reached the final goal. I'll get into Heaven by the blood of Jesus Christ, but I will not have been all that I could have been for the Lord.
We can't quit until our "careers" are completely finished. The day we stop is the day the Lord calls us home. We do not receive an earthly trophy for this, but we get something much better. We will one day receive heavenly rewards that we can cast at the feet of our Saviour in thanksgiving for what He has done for us.
We're all tempted to give up at times. There are times that our flesh feels that we're wasting out time and that nothing will come of our service. The next time that happens to you, remember Ray Bourque. Then remember that you're competing for something much greater than the Stanley Cup, We're competing for an "incorruptible crown." The joy he experienced that day will not compare to the joy we will experience in the presence of our Saviour. Follow Ray Bourque's lead. Don't quit until it's over.
Galatians 6:9
The 2000-01 NHL season was Ray Bourque's last. His 410 goals, 1,169 assists, and 1,579 points were all (and still are) records for defensemen. He won five Norris Trophies as the league's best defenseman, was a 13-time first team all-star, and was even runner-up in Hart Trophy balloting in 1990 - a feat nearly unheard of for a defenseman. His career exploits were so great that three years before he retired, he was ranked 14th on The Hockey News' list of the 100 greatest players of all-time.
As impressive as that resume is, there was one thing missing. After playing in 1,612 regular season games, and 22 seasons, Ray Bourque still had not earned the one honor that players most crave -- the right to hoist the Stanley Cup and have his name engraved on the prestigious trophy. Those were the most games and seasons played by a player never to have won the Stanley Cup.
Bourque spent his first 20 seasons, and most of his 21st with the Boston Bruins. In 1988 and 1990, the Bruins advanced as far as the Stanley Cup Finals, only to run into the buzz saw that was the Edmonton Oilers dynasty. As much as Bourque loved playing in Boston, a disappointing season in 1999-2000 proved to him that we would not have a chance to win the Cup with the Bruins, leading to his requesting a trade. Bourque requested a trade to an East coast team, but unbeknownst to him, General Manager Harry Sinden, who also desired to see Bourque win the Cup, was closing a deal with the Colorado Avalanche. When the trade was finished, Sinden told Bourque, "This may not be your first choice, but this is the team I believe is best."
Bourque played only a handful of games with the Avalanche that season, but the team came as close as one goal from the Stanley Cup Finals, giving a lot of hope for the next season. For the 2000-01 season, Bourque was named an alternate captain, and was a key piece of the team. At 41 years old, he earned recognition as a first team all-star and was runner-up for the Norris. After winning the President's Trophy with the league's best record, the team then successfully navigated the Western Conference playoffs to reach the Stanley Cup Finals, where they faced the defending champion New Jersey Devils.
It seemed that Bourque's dream would fall short once more when the Devils took a 3-2 series lead, putting them one win away from repeating, but the Avs rallied to win games six and seven to win. It is a tradition that the league commissioner hands the Stanley Cup to the winning team captain who hoists it first, but on that night, Colorado captain Joe Sakic broke that. After receiving the Cup from Gary Bettman, Sakic immediately passed it off to Bouruqe, allowing him to raise it first, and sent him around the ice with it. Of all the players that I've seen lift that Cup, Bourque's moment is still my favorite. Following that season, Bourque retired, finally having the final piece of the puzzle.
Had Ray Bourque given up on his goal before the final game of his career, there would always be something missing. By the same token, if we give up on the Christian life before the "final game," if you will, there will be something missing from our resume. "I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus," but if I quit before I reach the finish line, I will not have reached the final goal. I'll get into Heaven by the blood of Jesus Christ, but I will not have been all that I could have been for the Lord.
We can't quit until our "careers" are completely finished. The day we stop is the day the Lord calls us home. We do not receive an earthly trophy for this, but we get something much better. We will one day receive heavenly rewards that we can cast at the feet of our Saviour in thanksgiving for what He has done for us.
We're all tempted to give up at times. There are times that our flesh feels that we're wasting out time and that nothing will come of our service. The next time that happens to you, remember Ray Bourque. Then remember that you're competing for something much greater than the Stanley Cup, We're competing for an "incorruptible crown." The joy he experienced that day will not compare to the joy we will experience in the presence of our Saviour. Follow Ray Bourque's lead. Don't quit until it's over.
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