Last Minute Win

I was going to say it was heart breaking but it wasn’t.  Disappointing yes.  Heart breaking no.  I also took away from it something I consider really valuable.
I am talking about the British Lions win over the Wallabies last night. 29-26.  The Wallabies were in front for all but about the last five minutes.  Merril and I watched other things and changed to the footy during ad breaks in the show we were watching.  We were pleasantly surprised when the Wallabies were up but over 15.  Yet it was not a safe feeling.  The only time we would feel safe with a win was when the final whistle blew.
As it turned out when the final whistle blew, we were behind.
Yet one of the first thoughts I had on hearing of the come from behind win of the Lions, was about the end of something being the most significant, rather than the details running through it. 
The talk is not on about Australia being up at half time.  That is not what is the big story.  The big story is the Lions win.  The result at full time.
To me that is what it is all about.  It does not matter how well I do during the game.  What matters is the result at the end.  I may learn things along the way.  I may play above myself.  There may be no denying of my effort and commitment.  Yet I can lose.  All my good stuff may not affect a final loss.
I think I have mentioned before a guy playing me at table tennis.  We were so even.  We were two games all and 5 all and he changed strategies.  It totally threw me.  I lost.
The fact that there can be last minute wins really encourages me.  It seems to me so many older people act like they have reached their use by dates.  They think their best days are behind them and the best thing they can do is get out of the road.
Yet I feel completely differently.  I see the older years as maybe a chance to right some wrongs or achieve like I failed to do throughout the majority of life.
The game is not over until it is over.  The score at half time or after 75 minutes of 80 is not the final score.  That is only known when the final whistle is blown.  Until then I’m in it.