When you wish upon a star

When it seems like the whole world is caving in on you, it's hard to find hope. Crushed under the weight, you look for any sign of daylight, any life preserver to cling to. Then little by little, you dig and dig, clawing your way through. Sometimes the hole looks like it's closing, but you keep digging, because daylight's there--you know it. And then, a breakthrough. You're out, on our feet, relieved and looking back at the perilous journey you survived. And thankful you made it.

That what happened to the Iraqi soccer team today. They beat Saudi Arabia 1-0 to win the Asian Cup. For a country that's had its butt kicked for lo these many years, it was sweet victory indeed. The team earned this one--having to practice outside the country, not having equipment, not having the proper hotel rooms when they arrived, trying to keep together a team nominally divided by religion--they were tested by fire, and came out stronger for it. That's a deep lesson to keep very close.