A Win for Destiny

Now that I am leaving the Big Easy, here are eight reasons the Ravens win was so special inside the Superdome that housed Katrina victims years ago: 

1. Three 75+ yr women walked out of the bathroom behind me and started telling me they cried when Ray Lewis announced his retirement because they did not know what Baltimore would do without his generosity to the children and senior citizens community. I assured him that I thought he would still be a pillar in the community. Tears starting forming in their eyes as two said "I hope so baby".
2. In the Superdome store, four women that reminded me of my aunt and grandmother asked me to help them pick out some souvenirs. Oh yeah, two of them had walking canes and said they would never miss this moment. They saved for this day.
3. In a sea of red of 49ers fans of which it was nothing to pay for the high priced tickets (and they wore that arrogance too), Ravens fans were a pretty humble bunch that reminded me of my family (personal and extended church) and middle class hard working Americans. 
4. When the lights at the top of the dome went out on the 49ers side only (no there was no blackout), Ravens fans were proclaiming that it was the trick of the devil to change the momentum of the game and get the Ravens off-course. (And we know that happens in real life!) 
5. When the momentum of the game shifted towards the 49ers, I stood up and tuned everything out and started professing quietly, "God, you did not put everything in order for me to get here to see a Ravens loss and Ray not get another ring.  This was ordained. This trip is about how you are going to come through for me too.  This is about the testimony I am going to have when this trial is over." 
6. While the 49ers fans were cheering loudly at the end of the game, the Ravens fans in the three sections next to us were quiet on the last defensive play and put one hand up and said "no weapon formed". 
7. The emotions - The tears some of the Ravens fans and me too wiped away at 5 seconds to the end of the game. The cheer when Ray Lewis said "What God has for you!". The cry out that Torrey Smith did for his brother Tevin when he ran through our section. The tears rolling from Michael's adopted parents. The kisses to the crowd from the player's moms before going in the tunnel as she said "Thanks for the years supporting my baby!"
8. And the excitement of Ray's win after a torn tricep was supposed to put him out for the season and all the HATERS that tried to tear down his spirit but he kept believing.

So shout out to the Ravens fans and may Baltimore celebrate harder than ever because this was another win for destiny - something I needed to witness as my change is coming!

Ray Lewis - My Motivation for The Superbowl Trip

For the past four weeks I have watched the Ravens with their exciting surprise victories over the Indianapolis Colts, Denver Broncos, and the "air about them" England Patriots after Ray Lewis announced his retirement from the NFL. It was like extra team effort, his influential motivation, and another step towards destiny were all in place.  At each interview, Ray cited some key biblical quotes that were at the time speaking directly to me based on what I had been going through these past four weeks. Mentally exhausted, fed up with last year's bad experiences, recently experienced unwarranted professional attacks, and continually having to face haters regularly, I felt Ray Lewis every time he said "No weapon formed against me shall prosper".  Here was a man passionately telling my testimony and what I was believing every day since the 2nd week of January to endure.

After I was pacing the floor in my living room during the Ravens  - Broncos game, I kept telling myself that I have to go to the Superbowl to support Ray Lewis if the Ravens pull out a win. And that they did, in OT.  Needless to say I was jumping up and down during that Patriots defeat and again felt Ray's proclamation. So I rushed between the Internet and the phone to make arrangements to get to New Orleans. The result - game tickets were too high, airline prices were exorbitant, available flights did not return me back in time, La Quinta Inns nowhere near the Superdome were $600/night and Marriott Courtyards on the strip were $2500/night.  I couldn't fathom spending the equivalent of three mortgage payments on a Superbowl trip even if Ray Lewis, himself, was footing the bill.  It just wasn't meant to be.

The next morning I wake up to see that a Patriots player's wife made, with a subsequent apology, heinous remarks about past false accusations and the family life of Ray Lewis. Yesterday I watched a clip of Boomer Esiason derogatorily bring up a past incident of which Lewis was exonerated completely and unequivocally over 10 years ago.  Once again, I was disappointed that I could not cheer him on against the haters. 

Since my long commute was adding on physical exhaustion in addition to the other anguish, I decided to check into a hotel near the office last night. The front desk assigned me to room 301.  It felt like a quarter mile walk from the elevator but I was too tired to change the room.  I turned on ESPN SportsCenter (one of the only few shows I watch) and checked my phone for recent tweets and saw hateful comments about Lewis.  I began searching for the reason why he was hated so much because I was in Atlanta for the Superbowl weekend of which the horrible events took place and remember vividly the case.  I watched all sorts of interviews of him, his hard core workout regimen with Monte Sanders, charitable efforts around Baltimore and beyond, and dedication to fatherhood. This dude had some twists and turns and overcame some serious challenges but he is running life's course.  I decided I would give a last ditch effort to get to the Big Dance.

In my room 301 (area code for the Maryland area), I found better game tickets almost on the field, specifically the goal post and tunnel for 50% cheaper on Row 8.  I was able to book airline tickets that fit my schedule and 65% cheaper than what they were two weeks ago.  I found one hotel room available in the entire French Quarter, two blocks from Bourbon, of which I was going to have to share with my friend. But it was reasonably priced compared to the others and convenient to everything including the Superdome. They sent me a confirmation and I knew I was in. I called my BMF of 13 years before retiring to bed and said "We're going to the Superbowl!"

This morning there was nothing these haters could say to me to impact my mood because internally my thoughts were "I am going to the Superbowl."  Two hours ago I received a call from the hotel asst. manager confirming my reservation.  Since I hadn't shared a room since college and I need peace of mind from my week with these haters, I thanked her for the accommodations and asked her if she had two rooms. She promised to put me on a waitlist if an additional room became available.  Thirty minutes ago, she called back and said they had a smaller additional room and would give me both rooms for only $100 more a night. Choked up and fighting back tears, because this is just unreal, I agreed and immediately God reminded me that He can pull anything together in the last minute and when you least expect it.

Ray Lewis and the Ravens, this NYer has your back.  I have renewed hope just because of this trip to the Superbowl. God is always able and these problems will soon pass. In the meantime, I have to go pack for a trip to New Orleans that was meant to be part of my life's course.