Being a Veteran on Veteran’s Day is like having another birthday. Dozens of people will post messages on Facebook, a host of dining establishments will give away free food, and there are even a couple places that give away free haircuts (c’mon, who doesn’t love a free haircut!).
In my last blog I talked about how football became family. I described how the community around us became something more than just football, and how that support developed into something much bigger.
Earlier this week my 10-year-old walked into the room and said, “Dad, I really want to hit someone.” The forlorn look on his face said it all. He missed football, he missed the contact, he missed his football family. He missed hanging out with the guys, and to make matters worse he knew we were going to miss the end of the year banquet. In many ways the season felt like it ended too soon, and yet the season had run its course
This week is always a weird week for me. The celebration of the birth of this blog is something I could have never imagined. Three years ago I set out to blog on a consistent basis, and I still could not have ever dreamed it would have this much impact.
One of the things they ask us to do in seminary is to create something called a “Rule of Life.” The Rule of Life consists of things you are committing to in order to stay healthy, balanced (or as balanced as possible), and emotionally/spiritually fit.
Lately, I have been touting this as our new family mantra. Actually, if you’ve spent any time around me you’ve probably heard me say this mantra; there is just something about it that is so simple and yet so profound.
Legs bent, knees to the chest, squeeze everything as tight as possible, hold your breath, and keep your eyes on the boat.
It may sound like a weird game of Twister, but it was my mantra as I attempted to become a slalom skier. Beginning at the end of last summer I had made it my goal to get up on one ski, to feel like I could pop up out of the water on one ski and be in complete control.
Three years ago this week I decided that I would stop drinking alcohol. I wish I could tell you I did this for an overtly noble reason, but the reality is that Jay Meyer asked me to stop drinking while I was serving as the pastor for Next Step. When he asked me I was appalled, I was shocked. Then, I was furious that something as unimportant as alcohol could have such a hold on my life. Really, why couldn’t I just give it up? Why did something that seemed so silly elicit such a reaction?
Lately it seems as if Karen and I are just on the run all the time. We move kids from here to there, between my meetings and her meetings, and throw in practices on top of all of that. It becomes easy to see that we spend a lot of time in the car.
We are first-time football parents. At ten years old, my son is now playing the most popular sport in Centerville, Ohio, and from all accounts he is doing well. He loves it. He loves his teammates, he loves hitting, he loves the speed of the game.