2010 was the inaugural season of the Upward Basketball Challenger League of Upward Hanover.  The Hanover Upward Basketball Challenger Division is "a program for mentally and physically challenged youth from ages 6-13, helping them to enjoy the game of basketball with neighbors and friends – while experiencing the full benefits of Upward sports in a Christian athletic environment structured to their abilities".  Games and practices were held on Friday nights, with all of the usual features of Upward Basketball, including coaches, referees, concessions, a devotional, cheerleaders, and lots of cheering family members and friends.

The final game was Friday, March 5th, and the Northeast Upward Director, David Glass, gave an inspirational devotional.  He described a palpable excitement in the air before that final game was to begin, like he had experienced in the past before a really important game - a close rivalry game, or a tournament final game.  The players were excited, and there was a record attendance that night requiring an extra bleacher for seating.  But I think his sense of excitement came from something more; something unique to the Upward league.  I believe that his excitement was an anticipation of being in the presence of God, as He watched His people pouring out their love on the players during this final game.  And what a beautiful display of Christlike love it was!  This was God's love at its finest, and I felt personally touched by God's presence.

Unique to the Challenger league are "buddies" that help that players during the game.  Every player has at least one buddy, and they are specially selected to match a given player's needs, personality, and abilities.  All through the Challenger season, and especially during this last game, the buddies showed some of the most excellent examples of Christlikeness that have ever been seen.  There are many ways that a buddy's relationship with a player parallels ours with Christ.  However, I would qualify that by saying that Christ is no less than Lord and Savior, and His personal sacrifice for mankind's sins is supreme.  Nevertheless, once we have accepted Christ as our personal Savior, we receive benefits from our relationship with Him in addition to the gift of eternal life.

1. A Challenger's buddy is always there for him.
   
   "And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."  - Matthew 28:20
   
   God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you." - Hebrews 13:5
   
   Every Challenger's buddy stays nearby, encouraging him and helping as needed.  If a player gets hurt or upset, the buddy is right there for him.  And the buddy is right there to encourage and celebrate with the player too.  According to scripture, Christ is there for us as we have need, if we reach out to Him.  He is also there to celebrate with us; don't leave Christ out of your celebrations!
   
   
    

2. A Challenger's buddy does for a player what he cannot do for himself.
   
   In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. - Romans 8:26
   
   I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. - Philippians 4:13
   
   There are some Challenger players who cannot throw or dribble a basketball because of their disability.  In those cases, the buddy will handle the basketball with the player, and then celebrate the shot with the player.  Similarly, Christ and the Holy Spirit give us strength to accomplish tasks that are in His will when they are beyond what we think we can do by ourselves.  In times when we are so low that we cannot even pray for help, the Holy Spirit Himself will lift us up in prayer.
   
   
    

3. A Challenger's buddy knows the player, his strengths and weaknesses, and how he acts and responds to different situations.
   
   "I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me - just as the Father knows me and I know the Father". - John 10:14-15
   
   "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart." - Jeremiah 1:5
   
   There was a situation on the court where a stray ball lightly bounced off a player's head.  Knowing that this would greatly upset the player, his buddy immediately had her arms around him, and comforted him so much that he never even cried.  Christ knows all of this about us, and even our inner thoughts.  He is there for our comfort and guidance.
   
   
    

4. A Challenger's buddy gives him space to grow and improve his game, as he is able.  Some players need relatively little assistance, and the buddy can just let him play.  But if something goes wrong, the buddy is attentive and ready to help.
   
   "See that you do not look down on one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven.  What do you think? If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off? And if he finds it, I tell you the truth, he is happier about that one sheep than about the ninety-nine that did not wander off. In the same way your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should be lost." - Matthew 18:10-14
   
   At Creation, God gave man free will.  It is our choice to obey or disobey God, and it is our choice to trust or not to trust Jesus as Savior and Lord of our lives.  If we wander, God is not far, and the Holy Spirit will nudge us back into being right with God.  Sometimes our choices lead to painful consequences.  But God is always there, and He does not want any of us to be lost.
   
   
    

5. A Challenger's buddy's love is unconditional.
   
   But you, O Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness. - Psalm 86:15
   
   Give thanks to the God of heaven. His love endures forever. - Psalm 136:26
   
   For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. - John 3:16
   
   But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. - Romans 5:8
   
   God loved us so much that his gave His only Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.  There are innumerable verses in the Bible about God's love for us, about hope for our future, about our salvation and eternal destiny, and about us living a life to the full.  It is not God's desire to strike us down and curse us.  We can received God's blessings by accepting Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, by turning away from our sins, and by living our lives as a follower of Jesus.
   
   The overflowing love of the buddies toward their players on the basketball court is a blessing from God.  However, it is just a mere glimpse of the love that God has for us.