I heard someone say once that if you want to know the true heart of a man then put him on the sports field. The more I step onto the basketball court the more and more I find this to be true. Not because I see the true heart of the people that I play with, but because every time I lace up my Jordan's the true state of my heart and character begins to stare me in the face and mock me like Spike Lee at a Knick's game.
But why is this the case? Why is it that the field of competition reveals such truth about our hearts? I think it is because in everyday life we have the time to choose wisdom or foolishness. But in the heat of the battle you often don't have time to think, you respond. That is why a good soldier, or a good athlete, trains. So that in that crucial moment, when there is not time to think, their reaction is the right one. Jesus said that from the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks (Luke 6:45), and I think that often times on the court this is what is happening. When something doesn't go our way, we are fouled too hard, someone doesn't pass us the ball or whatever, we don't think, we respond. I speak for myself when I say this, that more often than not, my response is not what I would desire it be.
In sports we often take the much needed time to work on our game so that in every moment our reaction is the right one. The Lord has been challenging me to take the much needed time to work on my character and my heart because in the heat of the moment of life I would hate for my reaction to be the same as it is on the court.
With that said, I am starting a blog entitled, "Jesus and the Rock: Confessions from the Court". These blogs are going to reflect the lessons that Jesus is teaching me through the game of basketball. I would highly appreciate your comments and confessions if you would be open to share them.
Grace and Peace...and don't forget to enjoy the game!
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Awesome stuff! I'm excited for this!
ReplyDeleteYou have no idea how much this type of character has been pulled out of me by a chippy foul or a bad call. I have been giving my all this season to calming my emotions and realizing that the name on my shirt is for my church and I represent his kingdom first and my game is a reflection of him.
ReplyDeleteThanks waylon. I really thank you for saying there things and also confessing about just responding. It challenges me. Hope to see you in less than 2 months...man time has flown!
ReplyDeleteI've been playing two to three games a week with non believers for the past year. Its really challeneged me to love the players more than the game. While I do still foul as often as possible.. I've never called one or argued one most of my heart issue challenges come down to responding to critisim for missing shots since I'm usually the worst player. I thought being quiet and letting people blow off steam at you was the right answer and now I'm not so sure. Finally two weeks ago I snapped when... See More two guys were cussing at me for missing shots after the game knowing that for a year I've never once argued or responded to any court drama. I stood up and yelled back that I play my best and I pay to be a member and they were welcome to find another gym if they couldn't live with that. Everyone was shocked to see me speak up. The result was later people who never talked to me came over apologizing for those two and those two later apologized. I'm still processing if it was the right responce. Was it me trying to stand up for justice or righteousness two days after an ihop trip?
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