March Madness has brought lots of hooping and hollering at our home.
Yay UVA!
Holding our breath- cheering them on.
But it’s easy to watch the teams play. From the comfort of my home.
Sitting on the couch. Groaning at times.
But I knew it took a lot of skill and practice to bring them to that place.
Lots of skills.
It’s one thing to know that but another thing to shoot hoops yourself.
This morning my daughter and I went out and threw basketballs.
I won’t tell you how many years since I’ve tried to make a basket.
But let’s just say it’s been a few years.
It took me back to high school gym class when I loved getting a basket.
Get the basket in view and shoot it. Easy. Not at all.
Smile. Well today I started out tentative.
Stretching to make a basket.
Trying again and again.
Aware that what I’d been seeing on TV during the playoffs
Was much harder- much harder than it looked.
I was thrilled when I finally got a basket.
Overjoyed. Not by skill but I think just luck.
Back and forth we played
getting better as time went by.
Oh, not real good but better.
A few went in and some didn’t make it.
Easier to watch than to play.
Its true, isn’t it?
It’s all too easy to critique from the couch- whether it’s basketball, or a speaker, or musician.
But when we step up and move in to actually do it ourselves
we are suddenly faced with the challenges.
Practice is important. Having a coach makes a huge difference.
I don’t know about you but I loved shooting hoops today.
I came away invigorated and alive and have already planned to go back.
But more than the fun of playing today
I came aware with a fresh sense of how much skill it takes to play
a whole game
with other players all around you
to get a rebound
to steal the ball
to keep focused.
And my admiration for the basketball players is high.
What about you?
Maybe it’s time to shoot a few hoops,
or try something you might not have done for a while
if ever.
Step out of your comfort zone and stretch.
You just might come away with a new appreciation for what others do too.
Let’s be doers – not critical spectators.
Working to understand and encourage.
Don’t fool yourself into thinking that you are a listener when you are anything but, letting the Word go in one ear and out the other. Act on what you hear! Those who hear and don’t act are like those who glance in the mirror, walk away, and two minutes later have no idea who they are, what they look like. James 1:22-25 Message
I love your line breaks… 😉
Yes, it is good to have a coach…
Susan
How kind of you to leave a comment, Susan. Yes it is. May the Lord strengthen you as you pour out to others in so many ways.
Well said, Sharon. Criticism is so cheap, so easy to come by, and requires nothing of the critic. Thank you for the reminder!
Thank you, Neil, for stopping by and reading and leaving a comment. What an encouragement you have given me today. Speaking the truth with kindness is so important. God bless you.