A lesson for all sport from the b-ball court.

My family and I had the opportunity to visit some close friends in Minnesota over New Years. My friend is a high school boys varsity basketball coach and I had the privilege of going to one of his games during a holiday tournament. We went early to watch the first game. In the first game team A, who was taller and better, was supposed to win easily and beat team B by fifteen points. Team B put up some stellar defense and rebounding and fell short at the buzzer by a mere three points. It was an exciting game. I love watching athletes really push themselves and leave it all on the court.

My friend's team was next. They came out kind of slow against a much taller and better team. They picked it up in the second half but ended up losing by twenty-two. My friend's team is very similar to team B in the first game except for one thing - Desire!

On the bus ride home I asked my friend what one thing he would like his boys to do better? He answered me with this question: "Do you remember when it was that you first discovered what your limits were?". What a question! His point was that he felt like his guys were giving about 70%. Some of them may have given 80-85%. Up to that point coach felt like none had given 100%. That was so frustrating to him. It wouldn't matter if they just didn't have the personnel to win as long as they gave 100% of what they had.

That conversation has stuck with me constantly over the past week. I have to admit that I have not been giving 100% in a lot of things in my life. That is something the Lord has been showing me for much of 2008. I know that my life is in Christ and that what I accomplish I do only in Him, but there is the part of doing the command and following the leading which is my responsibility. Lord give me grace to follow through.

As for strongman I have seen that I was pretty half-hearted in 2008. I didn't train and wasn't prepared for Haugen. When my opponent started to win the events I became intimidated. I wasn't functioning at 100% that day, but I also didn't give 100% of what I had. I walked away that day satisfied with second. Later I was disappointed because down deep I knew that I didn't give my all. This year is different. I want to push and put 100% into everything God gives me; marriage, family, ministry, work, strongman. I am excited to see what God has in store for 2009.