Basketball mornings...It'll make a man out of you

High School basketball has started here at Breakthrough. Which means fitful nights of sleep on Fridays, grouchy Saturday mornings, intense Saturday afternoons, and the relief that God came through again, for Saturday Evenings.


Basketball for some reason challenges me to my limits and brings about potential extremes: worry or trust, patience or entitlement, anger or compassion, depression or joy.


It's amazing what comes out when your job requires you to do something outside of giftings or comfort zones.


My wonderful Dad always used to say "It'll make a man out of you" usually referring to taking out the garbage in 10 below weather, scooping 3 trailers full of horse poop, or any insignificat cut, scrape, or bruise. "It'll make a man out of you"


I still haven't figured out what that means, however I am reminded of it during Basketball mornings. "It'll make a man out of you" Basically, what comes out when you have to do something you hate? What comes out is your character, good or bad. However, when the bad comes out, it gives us the opportunity to change.
Last week, I finally did something that I have refused to do for 3 years, jump in as a coach for the league (I usually am more of an administrator) To be honest, my basketball confidence is very low, especially combined with a slight fear (yeah I admit it), fear of young black men from my neighborhood (I guess 3 years isn't enough to shed 22 years of cultural training) So what happened when I coached? I realized that I actually kind of liked it. I also saw a slight change in the way the basketball players interacted with me. And, I sensed a change in the way that I viewed them, the fear was dismissed. My assumptions about their attitudes and behavior were wrong; I was convicted again of my racial stereotypes. Basketball mornings bring out my stereotypes, Basketball mornings helped those stereotypes to be changed.

"It'll make a man out of you".

Another instance, a Saturday ago, I was dreading going to the basketball league. I didn't feel like what we were doing mattered. Something happened that changed my mind. One of the 15 year olds in the league took off his shirt after playing. This young man had been shot in the back 3 months ago. I had forgotten about the incident because of his fun-loving, care-free, respectful attitude. I was reminded when I saw the scar from the incision from his waist to his sternum, and the spot on his lower back that eerily was the size of the bullet. I was reminded that my work is not really about running sports leagues, and that some of those basketball players will not make it through high-school (graduating or otherwise). I was reminded that I am called by God to share the good news of His Kingdom, to share His love. My work in not about basketball it is about providing opportunity for discipleship and relationships. Basketball mornings bring out the fact that sometimes I think what I am doing is meaningless. But basketball mornings allow me to see why my calling is important.

"It'll make a man out of you"

One final glimpse into Basketball mornings: There are three young talented basketball players who always seem to be the best on their teams. Because of this, they are very popular. Anyone who is popular (I was not:)) knows that it allows you to have great influence, but also great opportunity to do stupid things. These three young men are regularly showing up on Sunday mornings to church and on Tuesdays to Bible study. Sometimes, doing what I do, I begin to lose hope for our youth. These three players give me hope; they let me see that God is moving. Sometimes Basketball mornings bring out my cynicism, but Basketball mornings and Sunday mornings give me hope.

"It'll make a man out of you"
I'm thankful for Basketball mornings, I am thankful for my job, I am thankful for living in my neighborhood. Why? Because it changes me. "It'll make a man out of me"

Thoughts? Questions? Anyone have a similar experience?