How do we face challenges? And what have we got to offer? A lesson from my team and St. Paul.




It was so great to take my two teams to the regional tournament at Plymouth High School! They competed well, won a few rounds, scored in every round (which is always my goal for them), and they had a good time! They go to another tournament next Saturday, but my assistant coach will be taking them because I have a writing class. That's fine-- they'll do well, and since my assistant is a former team member from when she was a student, they'll have a great guide! 

That all said, reading the questions for the ten ten-minute rounds nonstop is exhausting, and my brain feels mushy at the end of it all. We were supposed to go to the movies to see Psycho on the big screen, but it felt like work to go out-- the weather was cold and damp, and the pellet stove was much more inviting. So, delivery pizza and a quiet night. Not bad at all. 

I'm reading at church, too, today. The second reading kind of feels a little whiny on St. Paul's part. He recounts how, at his first trial, no one came to his defense, but he hopes that God won't hold it against them. Sigh. We have all felt that way, I suspect. What I do like in the reading is this:

"I have competed well; I have finished the race; I have kept the faith."

I'd like to be able to say that near my end of days, as well. Some days, it feels far too seductive to just hang it all up. Reading/watching the news lately, it's hard to lift your head, let alone your spirits. It's hard to feel like anything we do will ever matter-- but then, we get a day like yesterday, where a group of kids decided to go for it, have a good "nerdy" time, and they are hungry for more challenges like it. I want to feel that way about challenges, too-- granted, the ones facing us are far harder than even the calculus questions they were puzzling over, but still-- they gave everything a try. 

So should I. 

I'll shrug, shake my head, and square my shoulders again. People need what I can do, what I have to offer, and giving up means that they don't get help that I can give. That is not competing well. And I am a fierce competitor. 

Have a good day, folks. Hugs all around. 

C

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