We had our end-of-season hockey party yesterday on a cool, overcast Sunday. It was supposed to be a cookout, but we moved all the food inside because it was so chilly. The kids weren't bothered by the weather, however. They spent the entire party playing street hockey on the driveway.
The end of the season is bittersweet. I'm excited not to have to run around as much getting everyone to practice, but we've spent almost the entire school year playing with most of these kids. As I watched the kids play, I realized that this hockey season that we started with a bit of trepidation about how well our girl was going to fit in with this team of boys ended with her being just one of the gang. I know that she will miss skating with her friends over the summer, and I will miss hanging out with the moms and dads.
When she first started playing hockey, I would lie awake at night worrying about how well she was fitting in and whether this was the right thing for our little girl to be doing. Yet, God has placed a passion for this game inside her. She would rather have a hockey stick in her hand than anything else. And, she's learned so much this year. All my concerns were for naught. She had great coaches who taught her and encouraged her. She had great teammates who helped her learn and accepted her. And she had a group of parents in the stands who were rooting for her to succeed.
And I learned something from my youngest as well. This hockey season has taught me that if God gives you a passion for something, you should follow it. No matter the obstacles or how uncomfortable you might feel, there's joy in doing the things God created you to do. Too often, we look at something -- a task, a dream -- that we would like to do, and we dismiss it as impossible or too far outside the norm to be done.
We've spent the past few weeks trying to figure out the mechanics of what her team calls a "peanut butter shot" -- a shot that goes in the top of the net (the top shelf where you keep the peanut butter). She and I have spent hours on the driveway trying to lift that puck into the air. She finally has figured it out, and in warm-ups for her last game, she got a puck to lift a couple of inches off the ground. It was quite the accomplishment, and it was fun to see all that determination beginning to pay off.
God wants us to follow our passions -- he gave them to us for a reason. He wants us to be determined to finish the things He's asked us to do. We want to be like Paul who tells Timothy in 2 Timothy 4:7, "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith." Make that verse your goal this week -- to fight the good fight, finish the race and keep the faith in whatever God asks you to do -- even if it's not easy.
This hockey season, I learned from one determined 8-year-old, that you can follow the dreams God has given you -- even in the face of a world that tells you that you've deviated from the norm. Even when it's harder than you thought it would be. And even when it would be easier to give up.
Showing posts with label passion. Show all posts
Showing posts with label passion. Show all posts
Monday, May 16, 2011
Friday, April 1, 2011
Lukewarm Fans
Like I told you yesterday, we spent yesterday afternoon at the Royals Opening Day. My girls were super surprised and thrilled to get to play hooky to go to the game. My dad and I were like little kids because neither of us had ever been to an Opening Day ballgame before.
The weather stunk. It was cold and drizzly. We watched the game wrapped in blankets. The Royals had moments where they made the Bad News Bears look like a good baseball team (how bad do you have to be in the field to let a player get to third base on a bunt?)
But the thing that struck me the most was the lack of passion in from the fans in the stands. The stadium was half empty, despite being "officially" sold out. Many fans looked out the window and simply decided not to show up. By the fifth inning, half the fans that did show up had left, and the score was only 2-0. By the end of the game, there were probably only a couple thousand fans left.
I grew up in Boston and Chicago, and I am a passionate Red Sox fan. Royals fans puzzle me. They only want to watch their team if it's going to win. I lived in Boston during the years before the Red Sox had won a World Series. Fans of the Red Sox went to games and cheered on their team no matter how bad it was. They always believed that this was the year their team would break its nearly century-long drought of winning the World Series. So, the fairweatherness of Royals fans is not something I understand.
Sitting at the game yesterday, I was reminded of Revelation 3:15-16 "I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth." God doesn't want us to be like Royals fans, who are decidedly lukewarm about their team. He wants us to be like Red Sox fans -- passionate.
Lukewarm Christ-followers are those that say they believe in Jesus, but they are not passionate about following Him. When tough times come, they fall away. Satan likes nothing better than a lukewarm Christ-follower because they are not effective. Others don't see Christ in a lukewarm follower. What they see is a what people see when they see some Royals fans -- someone who doesn't care much but who will show up if all the conditions are right.
We want to be like those fans who showed up in their cold weather gear yesterday. Wrapped in blankets with hot chocolate on their hands, they stayed to the bitter end and cheered on their team as they tried to rally in the 8th and 9th innings. God wants us to have a hot heart for Him. He wants others to see our passion for Him and be drawn in by that passion.
When we are passionate about God and what He is doing, it's easier for God to use us. When God calls, we will follow. If someone offers me a chance to go see the Red Sox play, I'll do whatever it takes to rearrange my schedule so I can go. When God calls, if we are passionate about Him, we will do whatever it takes to follow where He leads -- even if it means making some difficult choices.
Revelation 3:16 says that God will spit the lukewarm Christ-followers out of His mouth. God wants us to whole-heartedly follow after Him. He wants us to show up to serve Him even when the circumstances aren't perfect -- even when they make us uncomfortable. It's not always easy but it is always worth it.
The weather stunk. It was cold and drizzly. We watched the game wrapped in blankets. The Royals had moments where they made the Bad News Bears look like a good baseball team (how bad do you have to be in the field to let a player get to third base on a bunt?)
But the thing that struck me the most was the lack of passion in from the fans in the stands. The stadium was half empty, despite being "officially" sold out. Many fans looked out the window and simply decided not to show up. By the fifth inning, half the fans that did show up had left, and the score was only 2-0. By the end of the game, there were probably only a couple thousand fans left.
I grew up in Boston and Chicago, and I am a passionate Red Sox fan. Royals fans puzzle me. They only want to watch their team if it's going to win. I lived in Boston during the years before the Red Sox had won a World Series. Fans of the Red Sox went to games and cheered on their team no matter how bad it was. They always believed that this was the year their team would break its nearly century-long drought of winning the World Series. So, the fairweatherness of Royals fans is not something I understand.
Sitting at the game yesterday, I was reminded of Revelation 3:15-16 "I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth." God doesn't want us to be like Royals fans, who are decidedly lukewarm about their team. He wants us to be like Red Sox fans -- passionate.
Lukewarm Christ-followers are those that say they believe in Jesus, but they are not passionate about following Him. When tough times come, they fall away. Satan likes nothing better than a lukewarm Christ-follower because they are not effective. Others don't see Christ in a lukewarm follower. What they see is a what people see when they see some Royals fans -- someone who doesn't care much but who will show up if all the conditions are right.
We want to be like those fans who showed up in their cold weather gear yesterday. Wrapped in blankets with hot chocolate on their hands, they stayed to the bitter end and cheered on their team as they tried to rally in the 8th and 9th innings. God wants us to have a hot heart for Him. He wants others to see our passion for Him and be drawn in by that passion.
When we are passionate about God and what He is doing, it's easier for God to use us. When God calls, we will follow. If someone offers me a chance to go see the Red Sox play, I'll do whatever it takes to rearrange my schedule so I can go. When God calls, if we are passionate about Him, we will do whatever it takes to follow where He leads -- even if it means making some difficult choices.
Revelation 3:16 says that God will spit the lukewarm Christ-followers out of His mouth. God wants us to whole-heartedly follow after Him. He wants us to show up to serve Him even when the circumstances aren't perfect -- even when they make us uncomfortable. It's not always easy but it is always worth it.
Friday, February 18, 2011
Finding Your Passion
The ice rink where my daughter plays hockey shut down about a month ago. In a town where ice is already a precious commodity, losing two sheets of ice has made a mess of the hockey schedule. We have had games and practices all over town. One weekend we drove to a town more than an hour north of here to play a game, then drove to a town an hour east of here to play another game an hour and a half later. Last weekend the team played back-to-back games against two different teams. Talk about tired legs.
I have to admit that my husband and I have not been overly thrilled with the changes. Rationally, we understand that it's no one within the hockey organization's fault, but it still places a lot of stress on our weekend schedules. To top it off, hockey practice got moved to the same night at nearly the same time as my older daughter's soccer practice, so it's been a struggle to get everyone where they are supposed to be.
Through all the running around, I've learned something from my daughter. Not once has she complained about the crazy schedule. I know that sometimes she's exhausted playing so many games in a weekend. She doesn't like riding in the car for a long time to get to her games, either. Back-to-back games aren't a whole lot of fun for her 7-year-old legs. Yet, for her, hockey is a passion. She loves it so much that she's willing to play any time, anywhere.
It's part of our job, as parents, to help our kids to find their passion. God created each person with a unique set of passions and desires, so He can use those to glorify Him. Psalm 139:14 tells us that we are "fearfully and wonderfully made." Our job is to nurture those passions in our kids. Sometimes, it takes a while for your child to find that thing they are passionate about, and it may not match your own. When we started playing hockey, my husband didn't know icing from slashing, but he's learning. When my oldest started playing soccer, I didn't know a scissor kick from a maradona turn, but I'm learning.
Your child may not even know what their passion is. They may need a little nudge from you to pursue it. Fear of failure can be a powerful force that will convince your child not to even try. Your job is to be an encourager and a sounding board. Encourage your child to try something new. If they fail, encourage them to try something else. If they succeed, become their biggest champion. Most of all, help them to recognize that that passion comes from God, and He wants them to use it for Him.
I have to admit that my husband and I have not been overly thrilled with the changes. Rationally, we understand that it's no one within the hockey organization's fault, but it still places a lot of stress on our weekend schedules. To top it off, hockey practice got moved to the same night at nearly the same time as my older daughter's soccer practice, so it's been a struggle to get everyone where they are supposed to be.
Through all the running around, I've learned something from my daughter. Not once has she complained about the crazy schedule. I know that sometimes she's exhausted playing so many games in a weekend. She doesn't like riding in the car for a long time to get to her games, either. Back-to-back games aren't a whole lot of fun for her 7-year-old legs. Yet, for her, hockey is a passion. She loves it so much that she's willing to play any time, anywhere.
It's part of our job, as parents, to help our kids to find their passion. God created each person with a unique set of passions and desires, so He can use those to glorify Him. Psalm 139:14 tells us that we are "fearfully and wonderfully made." Our job is to nurture those passions in our kids. Sometimes, it takes a while for your child to find that thing they are passionate about, and it may not match your own. When we started playing hockey, my husband didn't know icing from slashing, but he's learning. When my oldest started playing soccer, I didn't know a scissor kick from a maradona turn, but I'm learning.
Your child may not even know what their passion is. They may need a little nudge from you to pursue it. Fear of failure can be a powerful force that will convince your child not to even try. Your job is to be an encourager and a sounding board. Encourage your child to try something new. If they fail, encourage them to try something else. If they succeed, become their biggest champion. Most of all, help them to recognize that that passion comes from God, and He wants them to use it for Him.
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