Universal Truths in Colombia

Athletes in Action put on its first coaching clinic in Colombia last week and because I have some experience with them, they asked if I would tag along and participate. Arriving, Virginia Military Institute assistant Chris Kreider and I put on a two day basketball clinic of just about everything we knew about the game. Piadad Douglas, in charge of AIA in Colombia, and her team did a great, professional job and Chris and I were fortunate to be a part of it.

But I have been to Asia, Europe twice and all over the United States meeting people and doing basketball camps or clinics. Colombia was different in that the music, language, and food were different than the other places (side note...it has been my experience that the food in foreign countries even hamburgers and chicken tastes so much better than here in the States), but there were some similarities.

People are different culturally, language, dress, food, etc are diverse, however I have found some universals truths. We want to be happy, we want to have families, we want friends, we want health for both ourselves and those we know, we want to be taken care of and we want to take care of others. The differences are noticeable when you visit a different culture, but if you really pay attention, we do want many of the same things.

I have noticed as I travel that those with fewer material things seem to be happier than many Americans. I mean, just look at the national political scene where so many are angry on both sides of the aisle, shootings take place way too often and so many are medicated either by prescription or illegally.

Why is it that a country like the US which has so much seems so unhappy?

Why is it that when I visit countries with fewer things and fewer resources, they seem to be happier than we are? Is it because I have some idealistic notion of wanting to have less and I see in them only what I want? Or is it because there is a truth in "more money, more problems"?

Even the game of basketball. We take it so serious in this country and definitely in this state (guilty as charged) that I am afraid that sometimes we forget the innocence and fun that it brings. We often forget that Division I scholarships are not given away like candy thrown out at a parade and we put so much pressure on our children to excel, too many times having them end up resenting the sport they once loved.

I worked with a middle school aged girls team during the clinic in Cali, Colombia and they soaked in everything I said. They enjoyed doing what I showed and in their joy, I remembered why I love basketball. Not that I had forgotten, I try to remind myself daily how lucky I am, but it was different with them. And it was different in the coaches who stayed around after the clinic or during breaks or followed us to dinner just because they want to be around us and talk basketball or life.

I was only gone for a few days, but it was enough. I was ready to come home. I missed my wife and kids and the comfort of my bed, the comfort of hot water and electricity. I missed the comforts that we take for granted here in this great country and am glad to be back, but I long for a more simple life, I'm just not brave enough to do it, I guess because I am like you; I kind of enjoy being pampered.

The goal now as always is to appreciate it.

Now, I need my kids to get up some shots so they earn those college scholarships...

AIA in Colombia

Seniors 2016, Just 5 Simple Things to Remember

It's the end of the school year and seniors are walking out the door, here's a little advice:

1. Experience is the best teacher and usually the only one you will listen to.

2. Understand that no matter how bad it is, it won't last and you can get through it.

3. Truly appreciate the small things in life, they mean more than most big events which are fleeting and make you feel inadequate unless you're having them consistently.

4. Treat everyone with respect, when you're going up the ladder to success, you just may pass someone who could some day be your boss.

5. The sooner you realize that this life isn't about you and that the more you give back and help, the happier you will be.

And that's about it, remember those five things, oh, except credit cards....stay away from them if possible, they can be evil.

It's About That Time Again

Colossians Remixed:Subverting the Empire

Went to Sojourn Midtown this past Sunday and the sermon was taught over Colossians and this quote was used during that time.

"Whatever you can imagine visible and invisible mountains and atoms; outer space, urban space and cyberspace whether it be the Pentagon, Disneyland, Microsoft or AT and T whether it be the institutionalized  power structures of the state, the academy or the market, all things have been created in him and through him."

"He is their source, their purpose, their goal even in their rebellion, even in their idolatry, he is the sovereign one. Their power and authority is derived at best parasitic at worst."

"In the face of the empire, in the face of the presumptuous claims to sovereignty, in the face of the imperial and idolatrous forces in our lives, Christ is before all things. He is sovereign in life, not the pimped dreams of the global market, not the idolatrous forces of nationalism, not the insatiable desires of a consumerist culture."

Brian J. Walsh and Sylvia C. Keesmaat

Success is...

Where I teach there is an expectation of excellence.

It is on the court, it is on the field, it is in the classroom, it is in the arts department, it exists most everywhere.

But it is not an expectation that is so overwhelming that it smothers you. It is just expected.

And what is great is when that success does occur, it is celebrated by everyone. The students seem genuinely happy for their classmates.

And when that success does not occur here, there is not a feeling of "oh we just ruined the only chance we had to win in the last 20 years", there is a feeling of let's get back to work and make sure it does not happen again, this losing.

And where I teach and coach is a public school, a medium sized public school. It is not overwhelmingly large in student enrollment and it is not a private school where people from all over the area attend.

So where does it come from this expectation of excellence?

I have worked at many different schools, but it is different here. At each of these places there were great kids, great teachers, and great coaches, but the success level was not always as high as here.

I believe it starts in the home.

Mom and dad expect their children to compete, do well, and not blame anything on their lack of success other than they were beaten.

Of course, there are exceptions to this, but I believe culturally, the success has started in the home and has carried over into this building. And that is how it should be.

Sun Coming Up in DC