A Cub Fan's Lament

I have been a Cubs fan since, well - since the first time I remember watching a baseball game on television with my Dad and the Cubs were playing. Or, it may have been the first time I remember the radio chirping out a baseball game and the voices explaining the action and describing how those same Cubs were doing. 

I was surrounded by Chicago Cubs baseball as far back as I can remember.

The Cubs have always been a part of my life.
As long as I can remember.

It's 2012 these days.
The Cubs are neither glaring from my television or barking from my radio.

I had high hopes for them this year, young team and all.
I had high hopes for them this year, Theo Epstein on board and all.
I had high hopes for them to not be as awful as they had been last year, at least. That would be a step in the right direction and all.

On June 29, 2012 the Cubs season record is 27 Wins 49 Losses for a .355 winning percentage.
The Cubs are 17 and 20 at home at Wrigley Field and a terrible 10-29 on the road.
The Cubs are 14.5 games out of first place before the All-Star Break.
The Cubs have the worst season won-loss record in the entire major leagues.

I wear my Cubs ball caps proudly.
I have four of them I can wear at any time - and wear proudly.
It is a different kind of pride, however. It is the pride that tells everyone else that I will not give up. It is the pride that tells everyone else that I still have hope. It is the pride that tells everyone else that I still support the Cubs. It is the pride that tells everyone else I still support the Cubs in spite of - in spite of themselves. 

More and more these days my Cubs caps seem to inspire not appreciation of my pride from everyone who sees me wear them, but rather a small kind of pity that sees me underneath the hat holding out hope for something that just seems is never going to be realized - like the little kid eagerly eating his ice cream cone on a hot July afternoon who is certain the joy and happiness will last forever and will in no way be devoured or melt away in less than five minutes leaving him sticky, thirsty and wondering if all fun things in life are that fleeting.

Our hope in the Cubs is just as Hebrews 11:1 says: 
 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.

We Cub fans know one day the Cubs will win, will win the World Series again and all will be set right for them.
We know this will happen, it will happen sometime soon and all will be set well for us fans.
There will be much rejoicing.

Until then, we toil for them in our support, love and lament as they toil with actual effort, sweat, tears and blood.
We wait for the championship's appearing as they work for their earned championship reward.

There is more to being a Cubs fan that being a fan.
Being a Cubs fan is about hoping in the ones who need all of our effort in support, and love.
Being a Cubs fan means never giving up and turning away.
Being a Cubs fan means always standing behind, standing up and cheering and yelling and crying.

Being a Cubs fan means doing all of that for as long as it takes - even of it has only ended up in lament.
 - at least until next year.

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