Out of the Dust There is Life
When my girls were small, I had magical healing powers. I could kiss a scrape or bandage a cut and presto! It would be “all better.” They would smile and go back to playing. Today, these girls are young women, and I no longer have that power. They spend their days working hard in places […]
To whom do you pledge your allegiance?
When they play the National Anthem, do you sit? stand? lock arms? kneel? put hand over heart? Do you sing? remain silent? Can you remember all the words? Can you reach all the notes? I’m pretty sure we’ve never given it so much consideration as a nation as we are doing right now. What does […]
Is life erasable or indelible?
If I could write the words of life in pencil and not pen, erase that bit, re-draft that part, try out that ending, then… Penciled in, not permanent, what a better life I’d live. Take some chances, try stuff out, Oh what I wouldn’t give. Wait, that pencil is right here, it’s sharpened in my […]
The Dynamic Warm-Up, Why Do it?
This week I met with a group of high school basketball players starting their pre-season conditioning. They headed straight for the end line to start warm-ups, and then … waited for me to tell them what to do. Me: Do you have a standard warm up? Players: (looking at each other) Uh, not really. Me: […]
God, Jesus and Baseball
I was born kinesthetic. Not until some time later did I realize I had God to thank for that. Not until I came to know Jesus did I realize I had to do something about it. Several Washington Nationals players drove this home for me during the post- game celebration of Faith Day at Nats Park. […]
We’re Just a Pile of Change
They’re no different from me. They who now don’t have houses, don’t have water, don’t have cars, are missing pets, lacking livelihood, have lost loved ones. They’re no different from me. Oh, but I want to make them the object of judgment the image of wrath, victims of poor planning, poor execution, poor choices, I […]
Are we returning injured players to sport too soon?
Why do so many kids not only keep getting injured, but keep getting re-injured?! The biggest risk factor for injury isn’t over-training or lack of fitness, poor coaching or poor preparation. It isn’t even reckless play. The biggest predictor of injury by far, is previous injury. Kids who’ve been injured before and are attempting to return […]
Consumer or Producer?
What’ll it be today… Will I catch everything tossed at me, And throw it back real hard? So they know I’m no pushover; I can give as good as I take? Will I consume everything set before me Chew and swallow, mop up the gravy, Because I’m a member of the clean plate club, and […]
Activism or Love in Action?
I was an activist way before is was trendy. Today, an activist is: “One who takes vigorous action or pursues involvement as a means of achieving political or other goals, sometimes by demonstrations, protests, etc.” If you are taking action toward your cause or your goals, you’re an “activist.” It seems like everyone in America […]
The temptation to look is hard to resist
For some reason, this feels especially true today … Our Father, Who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, On earth as it is in Heaven. Give us, this day, Our daily bread. Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who have trespassed against us. Lead us […]