Julie schooled me in basketball...and life last night.

To set the scene, the SCHEF Lady Lions were playing a team from Houma last night. Julie's team is young and inexperienced and were up against some girls who were several years ahead. Julie had played lights-out basketball already scoring a career-high 24 points. 
With five minutes left in the game, the Houma team was leading by about 30 points.  Julie seemed to be playing four corners by the way she kept passing the ball and not taking anymore shots. We weren't scoring anymore AND turning the ball over. I knew if she would just shoot, she'd score but that's not what happened. In a time-out, I told her she was wide open and should take the shot. That's when she rang the school bell and proceeded to let me know that class was now in session. 
Her response went something like this. "Dad, we're not going to win. I want to give them (her teammates) a chance to score so I'm setting them up. It'll be good for their experience."
I was all about her taking advantage of scoring opportunities and she was all about letting her teammates gain valuable experience. She showed me that this is not just a game, but a place where we put our character to the test. Her attitude on the court, even when getting hammered by the opponent, is nothing short of true sportsmanship.  One of her teammates did score a basket. After the game, her teammate was so happy and Julie pointed that out to me. It's all about spreading the love around.
Does she want to win? Yes. Is she aggressive? Yes. Is she self-absorbed in getting all she can at the expense of her team? Absolutely not. In fact, more than winning, Julie just wants to play.  
I'm so proud of her and would take a whole team of girls just like her. Nothing would stop them...but then again, I think Julie would say that that's not the most important thing.

Philippians 2:3  says, "Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves."

We buried mom yesterday

It's kind of like eating sweet & sour pork. It was sad to see her go but joyful to know she's with her Father in Heaven. As much as I wanted to be in control of my emotions, they won and so it was a rollercoaster ride all day. I was exhausted. Dad must truly be tired. We've worked hard to make sure he is getting rest but all the people at the house yesterday kept his adrenaline pumping. He'll crash very soon and it'll be good for him. Dana and I reflected on the whole process of funerals, burying, etc. and both feel like there has to be a better way. Strictly looking at it from Dad's perspective, he had been at mom's side day and night for weeks. The emotional rollercoaster he was on had to be incredible. Then after all that, spend many hours at a funeral home entertaining guests. I know it was great to see old friends but he was so tired. I don't know what the better way is yet but I started asking questions about why we do some of the things we do at funerals and cemeteries. I'll have to get back to this. Any thoughts?

"Everybody's Shot"

There's a scene in "Black Hawk Down" that contains some dialogue that really has a much deeper application. In the scene, the U.S. Army Ranger colonel is in charge of a small convoy of humvees trying to make its way back to base under heavy gun and rocket fire. The colonel stops the convoy, takes in some wounded, tears a dead driver out of a driver's seat, and barks at a bleeding sergeant who's standing in shock nearby:

Colonel: Get into that truck and drive.
Sergeant: But I'm shot, Colonel.
Colonel: Everybody's shot, get in and drive.

"Everybody's shot."

I think all of us are high maintenance these days. We all have "needs." We all have "unmet expectations." The problem I see is that we are very sensitive but not towards each other. Why? I think it's selfishness. I certainly experience it. I want things my way. This is sin. No matter which way you look at it, it is sin.
It seems like so many people have a chip on their shoulder and are daring anyone to knock it off. People want to be a "victim." Are they in that much need of attention that they'll allow themselves to be that absorbed in their own life that they will ignore the needs of others? I'll admit that I have. Consider what Paul predicts in 2 Tim 3: 1-5...
¹But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. ²People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, ³without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, ⁴treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— ⁵having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them.

Ouch

The lesson that I've learned is that God has commanded us to esteem others higher than ourselves. Jesus wants us to "other-oriented." So, check your baggage at the door. Look at others first and meet their needs.

Everybody's shot. Get over it and focus on someone else.
Or to put it another way. "You're unique. Just like everybody else"