I don't even know where to begin...

Last night was one of the most rewarding/frustrating nights I have ever had in ministry.

My 10-12 year old team played their hearts out and won the league championship (a first in our history)!!!!

They played hard, under our mantra "attitudes win games" and it actually worked!!!

There wasn't a better feeling to see a team that had lost almost all of the games during the season, keep their cool, never give up, and win the most intense, come from behind, little league game I have ever seen! As my players threw their gloves in the air under the lights at the park and ran and hugged one another, I couldn't have been more excited. I was more excited than when my high school team won districts, it was a special moment: seeing the kids that I have been working with for 2 years play as a team, stay positive, and come from behind 3 games in a row to win! Its a memory they will never forget, and neither will I.



What happened next I will never forget either. We had bused 25 family members to the game (the park isn't in our neighborhood)As I was packing the equipment, my greatest fear happened. All of the energy, the intensity, the yelling, and the anger from the game boiled over as a fight began among the fans, under the lights at the park, a huge brawl began with people throwing rocks, grabbing baseball bats, and my parents and coaches literally picking up players and fans and throwing them into the van. I was driving the van and quickly found myself surrounded by a mob of kids, teens and adults. All of my players were in the van, as well as the fans that started the fight. Some of my coaches and parents pushed people out of the way, and I drove off with people chasing, throwing rocks, and hitting the van.

After driving off, some of the fans that were riding with me made it known through hysterical screaming that they had left their 3 year old brother at the field. I was put in a very tough spot, trying to figure out whether or not I should keep driving or go back. I finally decided to drive around the block and wait for the crowd to dissipate. My cell phone was dead, so I had no way of contacting the other vehicle or staff. After circling the block, one of the parents saw us and let me barrow the phone. The other vehicle had gotten the three year old praise God, but we were still missing a 16 year old, a 14 year old, and my summer intern. They somehow got separated during the scrum.

The rest of the evening concluded with dropping of the baseball players, patiently dealing with the parents and family of the lost kids, having a fended bender in the van, and finally the intern and two teenagers showing up at home having walked the 25 blocks from the field.

Needless to say, a night full of good things, and very difficult things. I have more thoughts on: the line between chaos and peace, the underlying power of anger in my neighborhood, and the invaluable presence of my wife.

For now, I need to get some rest.