I confess that I am in serious World Cup withdrawal.
I watched as many games as I could and enjoyed it so much that I lost my voice once or twice!
The World Cup is about so much more than the games on the field.
For the last five weeks, fans filled the stands draped in flags, jerseys and colorful costumes.
Neighbors gathered around televisions, strangers embraced after goals, and immigrant families watched the songs and colors of home celebrated on the world’s biggest stage.
One of my favorite things about the World Cup is learning new things about countries and cultures outside the United States.
Which brings me to Cape Verde.
I confess that before the World Cup, I didn’t know this tiny island nation existed.
And then I found myself researching this country and rooting for their team.
I was utterly devastated when their improbably run ended.
The World Cup is a picture of humanity at its best: people speaking different languages, carrying different histories, yet finding common ground.
It is a reminder that we all search for places where we are welcomed, where our stories matter.
Beneath every chant and every jersey is a simple human desire—to belong.
And perhaps that desire points us toward an even greater truth: we were created not to stand alone, but to find our place with one another and, ultimately, in the wide embrace of God.
