Sweet Victory
If one were to poll Spongebob Squarepants fans on their favorite episodes, odds are the Season 2 episode "Band Geeks" would be near the top. In "Band Geeks", Squidward attempts to impress his rival Squilliam by creating a band to perform at a football game - and just when Squidward (and Squilliam) think it will fail miserably, the band delivers a great performance, Squilliam is left speechless, and Squidward celebrates triumphantly.
The reason for "Band Geeks" status as a fan favorite among viewers is because it features a rare occurrence on the show: Squidward Tentacles, Spongebob's bitter, self-pitying next-door neighbor that can never seem to catch a break, comes out on top. Instead of the episode just being another miserable Squidward episode, it shifts to being a triumphant Squidward episode.
In fitting fashion, Squidward's band plays the song "Sweet Victory," which is what the episode ends up being for Squidward and fans alike. Admittedly, when I have watched clips of the "Sweet Victory" performance now, I've gotten chills at the very end when Squidward jumps up in pure joy and the episode ends with that still frame.
As I reflect on the episode and today's post, part of what makes that episode resonate with fans so much is because it's something that people can relate to: finally coming out on top as a winner. Everyone can relate to feeling like a loser or coming up short (as Squidward often does during the show). And while winning can't take away those past losses or pain, it does make one cherish what's unfolding and what one's accomplished all the more.
Over the past year of watching sporting events, multiple teams have found that "sweet victory" after years of just coming up short. This past June, the Toronto Raptors won their first NBA Title and the St. Louis Blues won their first Stanley Cup. This past fall, the Washington Nationals won their first World Series. And last month, the Kansas City Chiefs won the Super Bowl, their first one in 50 years. Heck, as March Madness rapidly approaches, I'm reminded of Virginia's redemption story last year; a year after the Cavaliers endured a historic loss in the 1st Round, the Cavaliers won the national championship. In each of these instances, they were championships that fans waited a long time for -- and came only after years of coming close. If nothing else, one can be reminded of the pure joy Chicago Cubs fans had in 2016 when they won their first World Series in 108 years.
With winning, there are inevitably obstacles along the way, sometimes the same obstacles that have derailed us in the past. Squidward basically gave up on his band before they rallied around him for the big performance. The Chiefs were down 10 points in the fourth quarter of the Super Bowl before rallying to win (not to mention being down by double digits in the 2 playoff games just to get there). It's safe to say that winning is never as easy as it looks. While that is frustrating, I'm starting to understand that it adds to the beauty of winning. If everything always worked (and worked out so easily) or if nothing was ever a challenge, we wouldn't have the same appreciation for winning. If anything, it could get boring or lead to complacency. It wouldn't be "sweet victory" anymore - only victory.
Now, as I right about victory today, the overall takeaway isn't that victory is the end all, be all. If anything, people are more susceptible to an empty feeling following victory. After all, once one's accomplished one's goal, what is one supposed to do next? Victory can't be our identity because it was never meant to be - and because there is much more to life than winning and losing. This isn't meant to undermine victory, but to put victory in context. Victory is a sweet accomplishment that should be enjoyed and celebrated, especially with all that it took to get there. However, victory can't be our end goal, lest we rest on our laurels or forget what made us victorious in the first place.
With victory, we have to remind ourselves of what's next following appropriate celebration: putting in the same hard work that got us to victory in the first place. The shine and excitement of victory will inevitably wear off after a while, but the work (and opportunities for future victories!) remain. Sometimes life's "victories" mark the end of one time in our life and the beginning of a new one (i.e. graduating high school or college). The victories that precede them can help to serve as motivation for us to continue to work hard. And even if we may never replicate those victories or if there's that one pesky victory that always eludes us, we can take heart in knowing that we worked hard and gave it all we had.
In the midst of all the victories and defeats that life does throw at us, there's one thing we need to remember: the most important victory in our lives is what Jesus Christ accomplished so that we could be reconciled with God. Christ died on the Cross for sins and was resurrected on the third day. Think about that: Jesus Christ overcame death. And it's that victory that's in the name of Jesus Christ that gives us hope for today, for tomorrow, and for what's to come. When Jesus warned His disciples that they would face trials in this world, He reassured them that they could take heart, for He has overcome the world (John 16:33). Likewise, we can take heart in knowing that though we will inevitably face trials and defeats in our lives, Jesus Christ has overcome the world and by the grace of God through our faith in Christ, we are victorious. And without that, there's no victory in this world or this life that will matter.
To close, I'm also reminded of another "sweet victory": the end of The Pursuit of Happyness. Based on Chris Gardner's life and memoir, the movie depicts his struggle with homelessness and caring for his son while doing an unpaid internship at a brokerage firm. Over the course of the internship, Chris doesn't reveal his circumstances to anyone (in one instance, Chris and his son spent the night at a bathroom in a transit station). At the end of Chris' internship, he learns that he's landed the full-time broker position he was competing with 20 interns for. As Chris accepts the offer,thanks the managers, he fights back tears. To have watched Chris' journey over the course of the movie with all that he and his son endured, it's hard to not cry with Chris when he leaves to go pick up his son. Victory comes in all forms, but one thing that remains consistent is that it's never easy to attain. And that's what make it so sweet.
The reason for "Band Geeks" status as a fan favorite among viewers is because it features a rare occurrence on the show: Squidward Tentacles, Spongebob's bitter, self-pitying next-door neighbor that can never seem to catch a break, comes out on top. Instead of the episode just being another miserable Squidward episode, it shifts to being a triumphant Squidward episode.
In fitting fashion, Squidward's band plays the song "Sweet Victory," which is what the episode ends up being for Squidward and fans alike. Admittedly, when I have watched clips of the "Sweet Victory" performance now, I've gotten chills at the very end when Squidward jumps up in pure joy and the episode ends with that still frame.
As I reflect on the episode and today's post, part of what makes that episode resonate with fans so much is because it's something that people can relate to: finally coming out on top as a winner. Everyone can relate to feeling like a loser or coming up short (as Squidward often does during the show). And while winning can't take away those past losses or pain, it does make one cherish what's unfolding and what one's accomplished all the more.
Over the past year of watching sporting events, multiple teams have found that "sweet victory" after years of just coming up short. This past June, the Toronto Raptors won their first NBA Title and the St. Louis Blues won their first Stanley Cup. This past fall, the Washington Nationals won their first World Series. And last month, the Kansas City Chiefs won the Super Bowl, their first one in 50 years. Heck, as March Madness rapidly approaches, I'm reminded of Virginia's redemption story last year; a year after the Cavaliers endured a historic loss in the 1st Round, the Cavaliers won the national championship. In each of these instances, they were championships that fans waited a long time for -- and came only after years of coming close. If nothing else, one can be reminded of the pure joy Chicago Cubs fans had in 2016 when they won their first World Series in 108 years.
With winning, there are inevitably obstacles along the way, sometimes the same obstacles that have derailed us in the past. Squidward basically gave up on his band before they rallied around him for the big performance. The Chiefs were down 10 points in the fourth quarter of the Super Bowl before rallying to win (not to mention being down by double digits in the 2 playoff games just to get there). It's safe to say that winning is never as easy as it looks. While that is frustrating, I'm starting to understand that it adds to the beauty of winning. If everything always worked (and worked out so easily) or if nothing was ever a challenge, we wouldn't have the same appreciation for winning. If anything, it could get boring or lead to complacency. It wouldn't be "sweet victory" anymore - only victory.
Now, as I right about victory today, the overall takeaway isn't that victory is the end all, be all. If anything, people are more susceptible to an empty feeling following victory. After all, once one's accomplished one's goal, what is one supposed to do next? Victory can't be our identity because it was never meant to be - and because there is much more to life than winning and losing. This isn't meant to undermine victory, but to put victory in context. Victory is a sweet accomplishment that should be enjoyed and celebrated, especially with all that it took to get there. However, victory can't be our end goal, lest we rest on our laurels or forget what made us victorious in the first place.
With victory, we have to remind ourselves of what's next following appropriate celebration: putting in the same hard work that got us to victory in the first place. The shine and excitement of victory will inevitably wear off after a while, but the work (and opportunities for future victories!) remain. Sometimes life's "victories" mark the end of one time in our life and the beginning of a new one (i.e. graduating high school or college). The victories that precede them can help to serve as motivation for us to continue to work hard. And even if we may never replicate those victories or if there's that one pesky victory that always eludes us, we can take heart in knowing that we worked hard and gave it all we had.
In the midst of all the victories and defeats that life does throw at us, there's one thing we need to remember: the most important victory in our lives is what Jesus Christ accomplished so that we could be reconciled with God. Christ died on the Cross for sins and was resurrected on the third day. Think about that: Jesus Christ overcame death. And it's that victory that's in the name of Jesus Christ that gives us hope for today, for tomorrow, and for what's to come. When Jesus warned His disciples that they would face trials in this world, He reassured them that they could take heart, for He has overcome the world (John 16:33). Likewise, we can take heart in knowing that though we will inevitably face trials and defeats in our lives, Jesus Christ has overcome the world and by the grace of God through our faith in Christ, we are victorious. And without that, there's no victory in this world or this life that will matter.
To close, I'm also reminded of another "sweet victory": the end of The Pursuit of Happyness. Based on Chris Gardner's life and memoir, the movie depicts his struggle with homelessness and caring for his son while doing an unpaid internship at a brokerage firm. Over the course of the internship, Chris doesn't reveal his circumstances to anyone (in one instance, Chris and his son spent the night at a bathroom in a transit station). At the end of Chris' internship, he learns that he's landed the full-time broker position he was competing with 20 interns for. As Chris accepts the offer,thanks the managers, he fights back tears. To have watched Chris' journey over the course of the movie with all that he and his son endured, it's hard to not cry with Chris when he leaves to go pick up his son. Victory comes in all forms, but one thing that remains consistent is that it's never easy to attain. And that's what make it so sweet.
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