Life may be more than a sport, but why shouldn't we play it like one?

As my sister left to warm up for her softball game, I caught myself advising her, "Don't just play. Keep your focus and intensity high, renew it every pitch. Be it offensively or defensively, each pitch is a separate attempt to win the game. Do what you need to do each pitch to accomplish that final goal." In baseball it is easy to fall into a rut where each pitch just kinda "happens". Be it a strike, ball, or just a routine pop fly, the game just goes on and the plays seem to "happen". This may work sometimes and you may be safe and win occasionally or even more than that, but to be the best you can be, you can't just "play and let things happen". You need to be intentional and constantly reminding yourself to be ready and alert.

I find myself far to often just going through life and doing the routine. We need to remember that each morning when we wake up, we should make a separate attempt to honor and serve the Lord. This could be your routine, but do each thing in the routine as a separate attempt to honor God and give Him your best. By separate, I mean, it doesn't depend on the past or future, live each moment like the glory of the Lords depends on it - like the game depends on each play. Each day from the Lord is a gift and it is up to us not take that for granted, but to use each and every opportunity we have (be it time spent with your family, time at work, or indulging the many areas of passion God has given us - like for me sports) to honor and bring glory to God. I think if we remember that, our lives will continue to be God focused and we will continue to experience the joy and peace of the Lord no matter what trials, difficulties, or wonderful opportunities come our way. Hey, Satan's not giving in, every one of his attacks are a separate and deliberate attempt on your soul and life, so you can't play the game any differently.

So to sum that up, my coaching word would be, "Don't just live, keep your intensity high and be intentional. Wake up each day and make it a separate attempt to bring honor to the Kingdom of Christ, being purposeful in your actions and deeds. Don't let the 'it's just another day' life play you, play it with intensity and passion."

I'm an animal baby!

Do you ever think God accidentally made you human. If it wasn't for my belief that God is sovereign and perfect, I would think that I was supposed to be a monkey or a dog, or maybe a ferocious falcon. Either way, I noticed as I was driving today that a dog had it's head out the window. I decided that looked fun and obeyed my animal man instinct to follow suite. WHAT FREEDOM!! WHAT LIBERATION!! I don't really know from what, but it was amazing.

People tend to look at me weird (I have done this with my sunroof in the past) and while I don't know if it's illegal, I wouldn't do it with a cop around. My question is, "Is it weird because I am a person or because I am driving?" Perhaps both. Either way, I encourage you to try it sometime and experience the liberation that traveling dogs experience everyday.

A day of the truth and revelations.

Today was tough for me. There really is no way around it. Around 2:00am this morning (I like to stay up sometimes) I received an email that changed the course of this day and my vision of part of my future. I won't go into details, but I am so thankful for the people I worked and talked with and with whom I began to reconcile the situation immediately. When situations are sensitive and issues arduous, it is truly a blessing to work with people you trust, love, respect deeply, and with whom you hold an abiding confidence. While I learned to value these people more, it is even better to know that God is in control of everything and to be able to rest and have peace in knowing that He knows all and has a perfect will and pure desires for each of us.

Sometimes, I am confused as to why He brings things along or puts feelings in my heart that don't pan out, at least in my timing or method anyways. But as I reflect on this, I realize that God's will for my life is truly what I want and what it best for me. When I seek Him, everything that comes along in His name is for a purpose. Then, in the times of storm and waves in my heart and mind, I find that ineffable and wonderfully overwhelming peace that all is well, God is still the same He was yesterday and He will remain the same tomorrow, He loves me, and He knows the plans He has for me - and they are perfect, not always wonderful in my book, yet perfect.

Clinton/Obama

If you watched any of the NBA playoffs this year you'll understand this better, but it's funny either way.

Wounded and gashed - but I will live another day.

I had started to write a great blog with an easy to follow thought pattern and clever use of emotion provoking words and phrases. But I realized that I just couldn't talk about that because I need to come up with reason as to why I loved and loathed sports - and right now, while I know the reasons that I love sports, I just can't express it because I don't feel it.

Why do I care so much? Why do I hurt so much? In this case, I can't express anything other than I feel as if I had a javelin thrust through my heart and twisted to force pain. I am glad for a great season and I will never forget the thrill that "Game 5" (you should know what I mean) brought. In moments like this, I have to hold onto the sheer thrill of the steal and dunk to bring the game within one point, I have to cling to the emotions that 4th quarter forced into me, oh yes, the roller coaster of emotions that were within me throughout.

Right now, life sucks, and the roller coaster continues because while I know my values and joy in life don't come from my team being the best of thirty or so other teams, I do know that this sucks.

Well, now I'm going to Youtube great sports moments and live in the agony this devastating loss but in the joy I find reliving the past moments of greatness - that only ultimately ended in bitter failure.



When Cleveland finally wins a championship, be it baseball, basketball, or football (save the WNBA), oh, will it be a sweet, sweet day. And yes, I will shed tears as I did tonight.