My now 7 year old son is beginning his 3rd year of basketball. Say what? Yes, his third year. He started playing when he was in Kindergarten.
Three years ago when my wife asked if we wanted him to play basketball I was dumbfounded. There was a league for kids in kindergarten? Who in the world would be crazy enough to work with kids that young to play basketball? And what’s the point? He couldn’t dribble, he couldn’t get the ball even close to a well lowered hoop, he couldn’t throw a ball.
The league he plays in is called UPWARD (www.upward.org) And do you know what UPWARD proves to me? That miracles are waiting on us.
How am I defining a miracle? A miracle is something that would not be created or manifested without God.
UPWARD’s mission is “Promoting the Discovery of Jesus through Sports.” (http://www.upward.org/about/about-upward-sports)
After watching my son play basketball for two years in this program, I have seen the consistent value it provides him. And now it all makes sense.
Who else would have the desire and commitment and tenacity and patience and vision to be crazy enough to think something like this would work – but those committed to something significant?
Who else would be willing to find the coaches and the volunteers and build the teams of committed adults willing to be part of something – other than those committed to something significant?
Is it any wonder there are so few organizations and leagues that get kids involved so young?
The rational person would think – like I did – what’s the point of a kindergartner playing basketball? And do you know who else isn’t rational? Anyone willing to surrender themselves to God.
Before each UPWARD basketball game there is a prayer. At halftime there is a short talk to the adults that often references scripture. It is interesting to watch how awkward most of us are, in a gym on a Saturday, listening to someone proclaim their love of God. But you know what? It wouldn’t be so awkward if we allowed more miracles like UPWARD to exist. We would be more used to it.
What would happen if we got better and better at surrendering to God? If we were so willing to go into the world and do the right thing – trusting Him every step? What businesses would thrive? What schools would thrive? What churches would thrive? What organizations would thrive? What families would thrive? What opportunities would be created? What problems would be solved if we stopped thinking rationally – but instead - as simple children so devoted to doing the right things for others because of our love and gratitude and commitment to God.
My children love UPWARD. And I do too. And UPWARD made me realize how many miracles are waiting on us.
Three years ago when my wife asked if we wanted him to play basketball I was dumbfounded. There was a league for kids in kindergarten? Who in the world would be crazy enough to work with kids that young to play basketball? And what’s the point? He couldn’t dribble, he couldn’t get the ball even close to a well lowered hoop, he couldn’t throw a ball.
The league he plays in is called UPWARD (www.upward.org) And do you know what UPWARD proves to me? That miracles are waiting on us.
How am I defining a miracle? A miracle is something that would not be created or manifested without God.
UPWARD’s mission is “Promoting the Discovery of Jesus through Sports.” (http://www.upward.org/about/about-upward-sports)
After watching my son play basketball for two years in this program, I have seen the consistent value it provides him. And now it all makes sense.
Who else would have the desire and commitment and tenacity and patience and vision to be crazy enough to think something like this would work – but those committed to something significant?
Who else would be willing to find the coaches and the volunteers and build the teams of committed adults willing to be part of something – other than those committed to something significant?
Is it any wonder there are so few organizations and leagues that get kids involved so young?
The rational person would think – like I did – what’s the point of a kindergartner playing basketball? And do you know who else isn’t rational? Anyone willing to surrender themselves to God.
Before each UPWARD basketball game there is a prayer. At halftime there is a short talk to the adults that often references scripture. It is interesting to watch how awkward most of us are, in a gym on a Saturday, listening to someone proclaim their love of God. But you know what? It wouldn’t be so awkward if we allowed more miracles like UPWARD to exist. We would be more used to it.
What would happen if we got better and better at surrendering to God? If we were so willing to go into the world and do the right thing – trusting Him every step? What businesses would thrive? What schools would thrive? What churches would thrive? What organizations would thrive? What families would thrive? What opportunities would be created? What problems would be solved if we stopped thinking rationally – but instead - as simple children so devoted to doing the right things for others because of our love and gratitude and commitment to God.
My children love UPWARD. And I do too. And UPWARD made me realize how many miracles are waiting on us.