Farewell.

(Note: This post was written last week.  I just had to wait for the correct hat to be ordered, shipped, inscribed, and photographed before I could upload.  Enjoy.)

As I write this, the MLB All-Star Game is on my television. The game features
many of today's greatest players on teams managed by Ron Washington of the Texas
Rangers and Tony LaRussa, formerly of the St. Louis Cardinals. As I watch, I
can't help but wonder what Bill James would think of the game.

The name Bill James is fairly influential, not necessarily in sports but
certainly in baseball. He is well known for his obsession with statistics in
baseball and the creation of sabermetrics, a study of the game of baseball which
attempts to "search for objective knowledge about baseball." That Bill James
has been influential in the lives of many baseball executives and players by
challenging traditional paradigms and altering the way players and teams are
evaluated.

Another Bill James was not a baseball visionary. (I personally believe that this
was only because he didn't want to be. I think he had a brilliant mind and could
have done anything, but I may be slightly biased.) He was more important in my
family's world than the more famous Bill James is to baseball.

William "Bill" James Kure was my grandfather. Sadly, Grandpa passed away last
week. He died, perhaps not so strangely, one year and three days after we lost
Grandma. That has served to reinforce to me that we can't take anyone for
granted. "There's always next year" may be an acceptable outlook in sports, but
in life, we are not promised anything after today.

I suppose an argument could be made that I talk or write about sports too much.
It's just how I'm wired. It's what I know and how I can relate to the world
around me.

It was no different with Grandpa. He liked sports as well, and much of our
interaction and conversation was sports related. We spent a lot of our time
together watching baseball, on the golf course, or around a Scrabble board. (I
am pretty sure that Scrabble counts as a sport. It is probably a safe bet that
it has been shown on ESPN2 at one point.)

I'm not sure that Grandpa could quote many big leaguers' BABIP or VORP
sabermetric stats, but we had a blast talking National League strategies, sac
bunts, and why Tony LaRussa would have his pitcher bat eighth rather than ninth
as convention dictates. I loved to hear his stories about heading to the
ballpark when he was young and catching a Major League doubleheader for fifty
cents.

The best lesson that Grandpa TRIED to teach me came on the golf course. Despite
some surprisingly good skill with my irons, I was never any good off the tee or
on the green. Many of my friends and family will be shocked to learn that this
would really frustrate me. Grandpa was consistently reassuring me and settling
me down to try and get the best out of me. To this day, even if I am just
hitting a bucket of balls at the driving range, I can hear Grandpa's words
resonating. "Take it easy. Just stay calm. Don't get mad."

I say he "tried" to teach me because, as I'm sure my wife and twitter followers
will attest, I haven't learned to stay calm in sports. I'm not bragging about
that, but rather confessing. For example, when watching my Rangers lose in the
World Series for the second straight season last year, I was not able to wait
until next year like Grandma would want or to stay calm like Grandpa would.
Ironically, it was Grandpa's Cardinals that would end up beating Texas to win
that World Series.

So what did I get from Grandpa? He loved golf, a game that all three of his kids
and one of his grandkids have taken up. I have not. He loved Green Bay Packers
football, a team to which my dad and brother have also sworn allegiance. I am a
Carolina Panthers fan. Obviously I can't be a Cardinals fan either.

There is one thing that he and I will always share, no matter what. That is our
name. A name doesn't seem like much, especially our family name. It is a mere
four letters long. It may not be a name that fills up the history books. I am
often teased or ridiculed about my poor penmanship, but when giving my
signature, I always try my best to make at least one word clearly legible. Kure.

I am a Kure.

Grandpa certainly wasn't the first Kure, but he is the first generation of Kure
who I can remember. Our first child, a baby girl, will arrive soon. Assuming
that she is ever allowed to date or marry, she will only be a Kure for a
relatively short while. (Unless she follows her mother's lead and marries a
Currie or a Curry.) My brother does have boys. So we are guaranteed at least one
more generation of Kures. These new Kures won't get to meet Grandpa yet.

They will just have to wait until we all meet up and head to the first tee box
up yonder.

Just one last thought. I wonder if, after some lively polka dancing and some
perfectly prepared povitica with Grandma, he gently pointed out that he got to
see the Cards win one more championship. Grandma's Cubbies...well you know.

Scripture: "He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no
more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the
former things have passed away.” - Revelation 21:4 (ESV)

Quote: "It is not length of life, but depth of life." - Ralph Waldo Emerson

Justice

It has been a while since I wrote anything out. To date, this blog has been lessons or parallels that I perceive in life and the games I often watch the superstars of sport play. Today's moment of inspiration, however, comes not from sports (although I am watching the fifth, and hopefully final, game of the NBA Finals as I write) but from another source of personal entertainment, television.

Specifically, there is an intriguing quote from Captain Jean-Luc Picard in an episode from the first season of Star Trek: The Next Generation. In this episode, the crew of the Enterprise are exploring a new planet and have initiated contact with the native species which inhabits the planet. While visiting the planet, the child of one of the crew members inadvertently breaks one of the laws of the land when he crushes some new plants while playing ball. The law enforcement agents show up and prepare to hand down the punishment. The catch is, that in order to create their seemingly Utopian society, this race has instituted a policy in which any and all crimes are punishable by death. The "mediators" even break out the syringe in order to administer the lethal injection immediately. Of course, the other crew members step in to delay the execution, and Captain Picard himself is forced into action to try and negotiate for the life of the boy. His appeal is denied because the child did break a law and ignorance of the law is not a valid defense. Picard is forced to deliberately disregard the laws and customs of the new planet and take the child back to the Enterprise to escape punishment. He tries explaining to the newly discovered people why his culture views capital punishment as barbaric. Then he says something profound.

"There can be no justice so long as laws are absolute."

I was watching this in the early morning as I was getting in a little workout time on the stationary bike. I was astonished. I actually stopped pedaling and ran the DVD back to hear it again.

What a tremendous illustration of our relationship with God as mere humans.

Sin is the act of breaking God's law. Imagine if every sin, regardless of our perception of the severity, were punishable by certain and immediate death. Would you still be alive?

I wouldn't be. As a matter of fact, I am certain that there would be no humanity left. Thank God for rainbows.

Rainbows? What?

Yeah, rainbows. You see, the rainbow is a sign of God's promise to Noah, and ultimately to all of us, that He would never again wipe mankind from the planet. (Genesis 8:20-9:17) This is exactly what would happen if God were to enforce his laws absolutely.

Why? Two reasons.

One, God would have no choice but to punish the entire human species. We are all sinners. No exceptions. "All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God." Romans 3:23

Two, the punishment would be death rather than some lesser form of criminal punishment. "The wages of sin is death." Romans 6:23

So, why are we still here watching basketball, writing and (hopefully) reading blogs? Why aren't we all floating face down in a flood brought on by our own failures?

The simple answer is grace...God's amazing grace. We can root for/against Lebron James. We can express our thoughts and emotions on the internet. We can live, just be alive, because our God is gracious and has chosen not to ruthlessly enforce the ultimate punishment allowed by the law.

Why can't we emulate this in our personal lives? No, we can't just ignore or overturn the laws of the land. Rather, the next time you find yourself in a place where a rule or guideline has seemingly been broken, try extending a little grace instead of immediately reaching for the euthanasia. Put yourself in the rule breaker's shoes, and imagine how incredibly relieved you would be when granted mercy rather than receiving the judgement that you genuinely deserve.

Just think back to when you received salvation. When your eyes truly opened and you actually could see how hopeless and lost in sin you were. When you understood that your sins had literally sentenced you to death. How undeniably grateful were you; how irreversibly grateful ARE you that God would say something like...

"There can be no justice so long as laws are absolute."

How precious did that grace appear the hour you first believed? (Wow! Someone should put that in a song.)



Scripture: The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. - Lamentations 3:22-23 (ESV)
Quote: "Remember happiness doesn't depend on who you are or what you have; it depends solely on what you think." - Dale Carnegie
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A Catch 22 (or is it 32?) Paradox

The back and forth between Texas Rangers slugger Josh Hamilton and team general manager John Daniels that has played out in the media has me searching desperately for my thinking cap. I'm sure I left it around here somewhere. Anyway, Hamilton will be a free agent after this season, and Daniels would love to sign him to a new contract. However, it seems both men have been put into a position where this is no right thing to say. Hamilton says that he will not, and should not be expected to, give the Rangers a hometown discount in negotiations. (Since he is from Raleigh, North Carolina, that "hometown discount" for a team in Texas should be rather small anyway, but that's beside the point.) Daniels has said that Hamilton's choice of words bothered him, but he understood the point Hamilton was making when read in context. In a landscape where fans and media demand absolute answers instantly, what can either of these guys say? "No comment" or "Let's just see how things work out" are not generally viewed as acceptable.

Consider Hamilton. He could be a true free agent with the ability to negotiate with any and every team in the league. If he says the Rangers do not get a discount, then he seems greedy. Never mind that thousands of free agents have searched for and signed the biggest contracts they could find for years. Some have hinted that he is ungrateful to the Rangers. This conveniently ignores the fact that he has given all he has of his heart and his body to help them to consecutive World Series appearances. If he says the Rangers will be given preference, then he sabotages his negotiating position with every team in the league, including Texas. Teams might lower their offers trying to compete with the Rangers. Some teams might not even make him an offer if they assume he is headed back to Texas.

Consider Daniels. He can't outright ask for or demand a discount. That might insult Hamilton and ensure his departure. He also can't come forward and say that he doesn't want any preferential treatment in negotiations. What if Hamilton was considering a cheaper deal with Texas? The Rangers would lose that chance if they didn't at least consider the option that a hometown discount might come into play?

What can either man do?

I can think of only one similar situation in my life. I work in the office at an auto body shop. I process the paperwork on just about every vehicle and insurance claim that comes in to our shop. There are two types of weather that greatly affect our business. Hail and icy roads. Being in West Texas, hail is a much more frequent occurrence. (The icy roads are interesting however because they are so rare that many drivers in our area simply don't know how to react.) Now that we have moved from winter into the spring, the next few months are prime season for severe weather. A hail storm would damage vehicles all over town and greatly increase the business and income of our body shop. What do I do?

If I pray FOR a hail storm, I am greedy. My wife and I don't technically need more income. We have a plan and are trying to live on and live with what we already make, especially with a baby girl on the way.
If I pray AGAINST a hail storm, I feel lazy, like I'm just trying to avoid increased work and responsibility.

What do I do? There is no clear, right answer.

In my case, there is a tiebreaker, so to speak. A hail storm means a severe thunderstorm, which could also mean flooding, tornadoes, and lightning strikes. Given the prolonged drought, the lightning could be the worst event, once again sparking massive wildfires like those that destroyed much of our great state just one year ago. In my mind, the damage or destruction of other people's property and homes, or businesses and livelihood, is too great a risk. Lives can actually be affected, altered, or even ended in an instant during severe weather. I will gladly sacrifice whatever personal gain I may see in order to avoid that grim possibility. (I don't intend to imply that I actually believe that I somehow control or affect the weather. I don't. I am just much happier when there is no severe weather of any kind, even if it makes me seem lazy. Those who know me and my work know better anyway.)

I don't know what the tiebreaker may be for Hamilton or for Daniels. I do selfishly hope they find it and find a way to keep Josh in Texas for a long time.

How about you? What represents a hometown discount or a hail storm in your life? What do you do?





Scripture: Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. - Proverbs 3:5-6 ESV

Quote: "No problem can withstand the assault of sustained thinking." - Francois-Marie Arouet de Voltaire

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Bad Advice

There is a very intriguing side effect that has arisen from my impending
parenthood.  I am suddenly reviewing and questioning much of the conventional
"wisdom" that I have been taught or that I have merely picked up over the years. 
Someday, it will be my job to impart as much of my wisdom as possible into my
son or daughter.  The truth is, that day will be here much sooner than I am
currently ready to admit.  I need to get my thoughts straight for myself so that
I know what I believe.  Which of these adages, cliches, and catchphrases ring
true and which are setting us up for varying degrees of pain and suffering?

Some are so blatantly, over-the-top annoying that you can tell they were
painstakingly contrived by someone intentionally trying to invent a sound bite. 
For example, "Smile, it increases your face value."  Rest assured this absurdity
is not something to which I will subject my child.

Others are the unfortunate result of our culture's rapidly increasing dependence
on technology and "social" media.  People can no longer simply talk to one
another. We all communicate via text message, tweets, or Facebook posts.  This
has led to a trend of abbreviations and acronyms that merely represent what we
are actually trying to say. Examples are "WWJD" (what would Jesus do) and "DTA"
(don't trust anybody.)  Both of those ideas have valid applications.  However,
beside raising my child to actually learn spelling and sentence structure, there
is one text language creation that I believe is excellent daily advice.  "LOL."
Laugh out loud.  True it didn't originate as a directive, but rather a response
to let your friend, real or digital, know that their comment amused you.  Still,
this is one of the best things I could teach my kid. No matter what, every
single day, find a reason to laugh out loud.  Laughter is tremendous medicine. 
There are several sitcoms that run in syndication every weeknight on television
that my remote control seems to naturally gravitate toward for some reason.  I
love to watch them because they make me laugh every night.  As a result, when I
go to bed, my mood is almost guaranteed to be better than it has been throughout
the day.  Honest, uncontrolled, out loud laughter eases the tensions that our
daily lives may create.  Try it.  LOL!

What about ancient parental wisdom?  Things like "Life's not fair."  This has
been said to kids by their parents for as long as there have been parents or
kids. This will also be part of the dialogue between myself and my child because
it couldn't be truer.  First off, it has already been scientifically proven to be true.  Secondly, in my spiritual walk as a Christian, the principle
of life being unfair is the only way that I can actually have life.  You see, I
am a sinner, and as such, I deserve only punishment, death, and hell.  However,
I am a sinner that has been saved by grace.  Because of God's love, and Christ's
death on the cross for me, I don't have to face or endure what I deserve, what
is "fair."  I thank God that life is not fair.  I hope that my child truly
grasps that and grows up eternally grateful.

Now to the two gems about which I truly have the biggest reservations.

First, whatever you do you must always "give it 110%."  Simply put, this is
impossible.  What is possible is that there is no more insane sentence in the
English language.  Well, maybe "You should try yoga."  Anyway, in any
measurement, the full amount of something equals 100%.  It is not humanly,
physically, or magically possible to give more than that.  I think the former
coaching staff of the St. Louis Rams football team had a more realistic view of
effort and hustle.  They used to count and punish players for "loafs." Then
defensive coordinator, Lovie Smith defined a "loaf" as a player changing speed
during a play.  If a player gave up and slowed down, he loafed.  Even better,
what if a player sped up? Many praise that player as "going to the next level"
or "finding another gear."  To the Rams coaches, he loafed.  That he sped up
only showed that he wasn't going full blast to begin with. He wasn't giving
100%. Your maximum effort is all you can give.  I think one of Tony Horton's
P90X mottos is more appropriate.  "Do your best, and forget the rest."

Finally, the Golden Rule.  "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you." 
As a Christian father, I suppose that I am contractually obligated to teach my
child this life lesson.  If it takes, at least my kid will make one mother very
proud.  I won't share my ever growing list of doubts about the Golden Rule.  It
just seems that there is plenty of evidence that there is little or no personal
benefit to actually living out the Golden Rule.  Suffice it to say, I'm not 110%
sold on this one.  The fact is, right or wrong, I'm afraid that following this
rule only reveals a harsh tendency of humanity that is summed up nicely in one
final proverb.

"If you give someone an inch, they will take a mile."

What do you think?  What advice should I give to my son or daughter?



Scripture: Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will
not depart from it. - Proverbs 22:6

Quote: "There can be no happiness if the things we believe in are different from
the things we do." - Freya Stark

Change

It was Saturday, December 31, 2011.

It was probably eight or nine o'clock in the morning. Come to think of it, I never actually looked at the clock. I do know that it felt more like four or five in the morning. I still wanted to be asleep. In fact, I was still asleep. The key word in that sentence is "was."

As it happens, it was also Mandy's birthday. We had already planned to meet my parents, my brother and his family for lunch. Though I rarely sleep very late on Saturday, we had set an alarm, you know, just in case. Apparently, this particular Saturday was the one that my body thought it was going to take advantage of every minute of sleep available before that alarm.

Then, everything changed.

I was suddenly awakened with a shot to my admittedly oversized belly, and one word. "Daniel!" It was my wife, Mandy. I couldn't immediately decide if her cry was one of excitement or of panic. I do know I was panicked. I believe that I now understand the scare goats on a whole new level. You've seen them right? They're the ones that, when startled, succumb to a sort of temporary paralysis. It really is hilarious. My reaction in that instant felt similar. I froze momentarily, trying desperately to discern what was happening.

Mandy was sitting beside me on the bed. By now, I was awake enough to tell that she was not in distress. As my adrenaline rush subsided, and I returned my heart to my chest, I noticed that she had something in her hand that she was excitedly trying to show me. I was not, however, awake enough to tell what it was. I squinted, but I couldn't make it out. I tried rubbing my eyes to clear the haze. Still nothing. I finally had to admit to her that I could not make out what she was trying to show me.

"It says we're pregnant!"

That's how she broke it to me.

It couldn't have been more perfect.

We are going to have a baby. We are going to be parents. I am going to be a dad. Wow! I mean...wow! What do you think about that?

What am I supposed to think about that?

After years of being married and believing that we were unable to have kids, we got the news that we COULD start a family. After months of trying, we now had the news that we WILL be starting a family.

Well, I have had a few weeks since hearing the news, but something tells me that I have hardly begun to think, feel, imagine and experience even a fraction of what I will from this point on.

Again, what am I supposed to think?

Most of my thoughts so far alternate between concerns over two sets of capabilities: financial and parental.

I wonder about the actual financial cost of being parents. I wouldn't call it worry. Rather, it is probably just the result of conflicting thoughts, presumptions, experiences, and stereotypes the sum total of which seems to be that "babies are expensive." On the other hand, there are those two words that many people hate hearing from me, Dave Ramsey, as well as the two words Dave says don't go together, financial peace. Many who know us know that Mandy and I have begun following Dave Ramsey's advice and have really turned our finances around. Instead of being multiple thousands of dollars in debt and struggling, we have no debt except our house and a decent emergency fund saved up. Truthfully, thinking about it rationally and logically tells me that we are in better shape than many who start families. Still, I can't help but wonder how a new baby will affect us financially.

The more pressing concern is my ability to be a father. What in the world makes me qualified to be a father? Many of my friends and family assure me that I am "good with kids." I also know that kids seem to love me for some reason. I believe that it is because the aforementioned belly gives them a nice, soft cushion on which to rest when I am holding them. I also have next to no sense of smell, so I am uniquely qualified for diaper duty...or is it doodie? On the other hand, I probably play more video games and watch more cartoons than most kids I know. Once I fall asleep, I am a very deep sleeper. How is my wife or my kid going to wake me up in the middle of the night for an emergency? Will I be that annoying parent who is clueless and under- or overreacts to everything? Also, the lack of smelling ability could mean I can't always tell when it is time to change the diaper. How do I ensure that I properly raise the next Dallas Stars/Carolina Panthers/Texas Rangers fan?

What am I supposed to think?

The truth? I don't know what to think. I am not going to know what to think. So, perhaps I will simply stop trying to figure it out. Wait and see. You see, whatever is coming will come whether I'm ready or not. Right?

Here's what I know. That little boy or girl is going to be the most perfect baby ever. That baby's cooing, giggling, smiling, laughing...calling me Daddy...will brighten many dark days and put the most amazing sunrise to shame. And if you need a pick-me-up in the next eight months, wait until you are around me and Mandy. Just tell me to do the baby trick. Then sit back, watch, and enjoy as she lights up like a Christmas tree when I say one simple phrase.

We're going to have a baby.

The game that is my life just got a whole lot more interesting.





Scripture: You knitted me together in my mother's womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. - Psalm 139:13-14

Quote: "I don't know if I'm ready to be the man I have to be. I'll take a breath. I'll take her by my side. We stand in awe; we've created life." - Scott Stapp

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Life's Not Fair

("Wonder of wonders, miracle of miracles..." This is a blog I wrote way back in The MySpace Age. Seems it is still true and relevant. Enjoy.)

I know. I know! A blog entry entitled "Life's Not Fair" is probably some dude crying about how the world has done him wrong. Well, it's not-not this time. Check it out.

I have become a huge duck fan. I love ducks! I'm talking Daffy & Donald, Oregon Ducks, and even "duck" tape. Being a Dallas Stars fan however, I still refuse to cheer for the Anaheim Ducks. Duckies Rule!!! (Wow, I cant't believe it took this long to get to a Boy Meets World reference.)

So, what's so great about ducks? Well, here's the story. Three guys die and go to heaven. At the gate, St. Peter welcomes them warmly and gives them only one rule to follow. "Don't step on a duck! Ever!!" Seems easy enough. The gates open, and there are thousands of ducks covering every inch of the landscape. Guy #1 doesn't make it a day before stepping on one. The duck starts squawking and quacking. This sets all the other ducks off. The noise lasts for days before dying down. Peter shows up and tells the guy that "As punishment, you must spend eternity with her." He points to a hideously ugly and disfigured woman. Guy #1 is bummed.

Guy #2 lasts a week, but he too steps on a duck eventually. Same scenario unfolds: quacking, days of noise, punishment, eternity with a troll. Guy #2 is also bummed.

Guy #3 is very careful. He makes it a whole month in heaven (I know. Just pretend there is a time frame in heaven alright!) without stepping on any ducks. One day, Peter shows up with the most gorgeous woman and tells him they will spend eternity together. Guy #3 is not bummed.

After a few days of peace and bliss, he wonders aloud "I wonder how we ended up together forever." The girl replies. "I don't know. I was just walking along, and I stepped on this stupid duck."

Now, I told you that story to tell you this story. Life is not fair, and here is why. I got Mandy. You can check out her website at memoriesbymandy.net to see her photography. She's the most beautiful, talented,
loving, kind, and compassionate girl in the world. And, believe it or not, she also happens to be married to me. How can someone so perfect have ended up with me forever? There can be only one explanation for this. She must have stepped on a duck.

However it happened, she means the world to me. She's the only one in the world for me. I am so grateful for her. She's made my life complete. My life is complete and yours is not fair because you didn't get to marry her and I did.

So, babe, I have been truly blessed to have you in my life. No matter what or who comes up in the future, I'll always be here for you. You know that, and now, so do the two or three people who actually read my blog.

Speaking of those two or three people - I have been out of it for a while, but there there will be more humor, commentary, advice, and sports in future entries. Being new to this, I still maintain delusions of writing blogs that are read by thousands of people. If that happens one day, they-like you-will know why life is not fair.

I'll say it again...

DUCKIES RULE!!!!



Scripture: An excellent wife who can find? She is far more precious than jewels. The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will have no lack of gain. - Proverbs 31:10-11

Quote: "There are two ways to live life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle." - Albert Einstein


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Seriously, It is Just a Game

I am a sports fan. Correction, I am a huge sports fan. Sports are a very important part of my life personally. They are a source of entertainment for me. Sports like softball and basketball are some of the very few forms of exercise that I still enjoy. They provide points of discussion for me and my friends or coworkers. Sports elicit a sense of pride when my favorite teams are performing well. At least they will some day in the future. I hope. Also, I believe that sports occupy a very important place in our society, a much more important place than some of us would really like them to. (Hi Mom.) There are so many different sports, and levels (high school, college, minor leagues, pros) and teams in those sports, that anybody can find something to get excited about. Sports have the ultimate mass appeal. This is best illustrated by the fact that there are more sports channels on TV than there are TV channels.

One result of that variety and mass appeal is that sports are able to showcase a multitude of tributes this weekend.

Ten years ago, The United States of America suffered through the darkest day in our nation's history.

We will never forget.

I will forever remember September 11. I remember driving to classes at Angelo State University when the idiot hosts on our local radio shows broke the news and, before all the facts were in, cracked jokes about the end of the world. I sometimes wonder what those people feel like after the massive tragedy that unfolded. How do they look in the mirror? At first, all they knew, and all I knew, was that a plane had hit the World Trade Center. I remember going to the computer lab in between my first two classes and being unable to access any of the news websites because of the overload. Only after my second class, when I got to the University Center and saw the TV coverage, did I finally find out what had happened. I remember watching the rest of the days events unfurl in horror just like everyone else. The second plane, the first tower collapse, the second tower collapse, the dancing and cheering in the streets by animals in foreign countries that were overjoyed at our nation's pain and suffering. I shouldn't call them animals. That is too much credit. I remember the most soul shaking thing to me personally was hearing that the murderers had specifically selected cross country flights so that the planes would be carrying the most fuel and thus cause more damaging explosions. See, at that time, my Dad's job was in Montreal, Quebec. (We live in West Texas.) He regularly flew from Dallas to Chicago or Montreal and back. Had the targets been different, it could have easily been his plane that was selected.

I remember.

Remember...

Remember the thousands of innocent citizens who perished needlessly.

Remember the heroes of the various police, fire, and rescue departments who either gave or risked their lives to save others that day.

Remember the courageous men and women who fought the terrorists, took back the plane that eventually crashed in Pennsylvania, and saved thousands of other lives.

Remember the men and women who served or still serve in all of the branches of our military as they fight to keep us free and safe.

We all remember.

Thus the aforementioned tributes by various sports leagues and teams. Yesterday, several NASCAR teams ran special red, white, and blue paint schemes at Richmond. Some NFL players will be wearing patriotic shoes and gloves today. Around Major League Baseball, the song sung during the seventh inning stretch will be God Bless America. There will be commemorative patches, ribbons, and stickers worn everywhere. And you know the NFL will have some very stirring pregame and halftime performances.

All of these are tremendous sports gestures. They are part of never forgetting. You see, I think sports are a barometer of sorts. They kind of measure our people's reactions to different events. When tens of thousands of individuals are able and willing to join together in one place for one event, it shows that our people feel safe. When those gathered masses sing The Star Spangled Banner in unison and cheer loudly for our armed forces, it shows that our people are grateful for and respectful of our military and its members. Most importantly, when those multitudes all join in a solemn moment of silence and prayer, it shows that our people have not forgotten.

Still, there is one thing that is sure to be mentioned multiple times on a day like this. I feel certain it will come up more than once in games like the one between the football teams representing New York City and Washington D.C. That is that in the days, weeks, and months following the events of September 11, 2001, sports helped our nation to heal.

The problem is that, even for the biggest fan like myself, sports cannot and do not heal anything. They just don't. They are just contests with no true effect on our day to day existence. They do not, ultimately, matter at all. If sports did not exist at all, I know that our nation would have joined together in unity anyway. We would have hurt together anyway. We would have healed anyway. Why? Because we gather our strength as a nation from true sources of healing, not from a game.

Immediately following the tragedy ten years ago, we didn't turn to sports for healing. We turned to God, our families, our churches, our friends, and our neighbors. That's the way it should be. That is where the healing started. That is where strength begins.

We will never forget.

We continue to move forward, but we still look back and remember. America continues to heal.

It's just not because we watched a sporting event. It is because of our faith, our families, and our friends. Those are the truly meaningful things in life.

That sport on the TV...that is nothing but a game.

Where were you on September 11, 2001?




Scripture: The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy:
I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly." John 10:10

Quote: "This week there will be plenty of solemn and important reflections on the events of 9/11. There will also be those who tell us that after the attacks and the horrible loss of life, sports somehow helped us heal. But, sports didn’t heal anybody that fall. If you want to say they provided a fleeting diversion, I’ll agree, just as movies and books, and reruns of Seinfeld surely did. Sports are not unimportant in the U.S. and in the world. They are part of the fabric of our societies. But especially this week, let’s resist whatever urge there might be to overstate their significance in the aftermath of 9/11." - Jeremy Schaap

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