Jr. High Basketball: "I Love This Game!"

Basketball season at Faith Christian School is just about over. And thought their record isn't what you might hope for, 1 & whatever. Still for me, it has been their best season ever, the best ever because this year Kyle (my kid) played on the team. It was wonderful to watch him giving his best every time he was on the court, and then cheering for his teammates when on the bench. I can't be prouder of how he played, or of how he conducted himself from the bench this year.

The only negative to the whole season has been the absence of relatives. Because unfortunately, all of Kyle's relatives live in New York, Georgia, Florida or Texas. All of which are too far away to attend a game in Maryland. I would have loved it if just once, Kyle would have heard the voice of a grandparent, an aunt or an uncle shouting his name with encouragement and pride from the sidelines as he made a rebound, or stole a pass; he would have loved it as well. Few things feel as good as having the people you most love, on your side, and championing your efforts.

It was that negative, that so clearly framed for me what turned out to be a wonderfully positive, and visible demonstration of an important truth. The church really is a family. If you have been in church for any amount of time you have heard this spoken of in one way or another. As a pastor, I have spoken of this myself on any number of occasions. But it came alive, I mean really alive for me at a Jr. High basketball game this season. It became alive for me when I heard voices in the crowd shouting for my son by name. Voices that did not belong to myself, or to my wife. These shouting voices combined Kyle's name with other words like, "nice job," "great," "get it," and "don't worry about it." At times it almost seemed as if Kyle had a fan club of his own.

Yes tt would have been great if one of Kyle's grandparents had the chance to attend a game this season. Sadly, that wasn't possible. Still, Kyle did have fans, fans other than the ones that drove him home. These fans happen to be are a part of the same church, but more importantly they really are a part of the same family. "I Love This Game," is a slogan of the NBA. But for me, it is true of Jr. High basketball at Faith Christian School; because it was there that the family of God rallied around and cheered for my son.

Blessings,
PB