I’m an avid football fan, preferring college ball over pro ball, but with a house full of young adult males, football reigns supreme, so I watch both. I spend Saturdays watching my beloved Hogs, cheering for underdog teams that I don’t have a particular interest in and rooting for any team playing against the LSU Tigers. On Sundays I multi-task, only half-way watching a game, relying on the boys to holler (that’s “call” in Arkansas speak) at me when there is a replay of some spectacular play. This past weekend I watched Arkansas beat Georgia, Texas beat Texas Tech, LSU beat Mississippi State, Michigan State beat Notre Dame and bits and pieces of other games. Sunday, I watched the Bears beat the Cowboys and I held my breath Monday night as the Saints pulled of a last second victory over the 49ers. Without a doubt the networks had plenty of film for their highlight reels; but what caught my attention more than the big plays and bone crushing hits, were the scenes that captured the humanness in the violent game of football.
I watched Jason Witten, tight end for the Dallas Cowboys, leave the game dazed and confused after his head slammed into the turf during a tackle. The cameras zoomed in as Witten vehemently argued with Cowboys’ medical staff that he was fit to play and I could almost feel the intensity of Witten’s plea to be put back into the game.
I agonized as the Red Raiders of Texas Tech played their hearts out against the Texas Longhorns. It was obvious that the Red Raiders were out manned and even though Tommy Tubberville tried to keep his defensive line rested, making frequent substitutions whenever possible, his two safeties had to play the entire game because there wasn’t enough depth on the bench to give them a breather. I was impressed by the young safety’s composure as the Longhorns marched down the field. It was obvious he was exhausted – hands on hips and chest heaving for breath; but when Texas broke huddle and lined up on the ball; he was one of the first players to get into position.
Last, but not least, I watched the last second on the road wins of the Arkansas Razorbacks and New Orleans Saints. Both teams had early leads, but ultimately found themselves behind in the final seconds. For both teams it was “do or die” in a seemingly impossible situation; on the road with only seconds remaining. As the teams broke huddle for the last play of the game, they did so with composure and confidence, believing the impossible was possible.
I watched as teams celebrated victory and I watched as teams suffered disappointment and defeat; but I saw far more than winning and losing. I saw determination and passion as Witten pled his case. I saw patience and fortitude as the Cowboys’ medical team stood their ground. I witnessed selflessness in the Red Raider safety as he gave more than he had to give. I felt the composure of the quarterbacks and sensed the confidence each had in their team to get the job done regardless of the circumstances.
In the midst of a game that is all about winning; I saw humanness. I saw discipline. I saw passion. I saw selflessness. I saw willingness. I saw confidence. I saw composure. I saw teamwork. I saw Christ. I saw all that is life. I saw what I am called to be.
Copyright © Judith Bell 9/24/10
Friday, September 24, 2010
Friday, September 17, 2010
One Foot on the Brake
Christol is the most scaredy-cat driver I know. She chooses to say that she is “cautious.” Trust me, she is a scaredy-cat. She doesn’t drive in the rain, panics when she drives long distances and absolutely freaks if she has to drive over water.
So, imagine my shock when she tried to kill me a couple of weeks ago! I promise; this is the honest to goodness truth. She will try to deny this but, I couldn’t make this up if I tried. My car was in the shop and she offered to be my chauffer. We had run an errand and were on the way back to the office. Unexpectedly, there was the loud blaring of a train whistle. Before I could even locate the train on the tracks, Christol was asking; “Do you think I can make it?”
Don’t get me wrong. I’ve taken the chance and crossed the tracks after hearing the train whistle. So, it wasn’t that I opposed her thinking about it. My indignation is that when I finally located the train, it was on MY side of the car and was less than 500 feet away! And, to make matters worse, she had her foot on the brake as she was asking the question!
In order to keep to the truth, I admit that I didn’t handle her action, or should I say inaction, very well. I know that there was at least one expletive that was uttered because the second thing out of my mouth after a shouted and basically hysterical “NO!” was “Oh the heck NO! This coming from the person who was just griping about having to have her bumper replaced but was willing to have the whole right side of her car smashed in? I don’t think so!” (Ok, maybe, but just maybe, I didn’t say “heck.”)
The Bible is full of people, Biblical role models, who took risks; Abraham, Rahab, Ester, the disciples, just to name a few. What did all of those risk takers have in common? Faith. They answered God’s call and willingly stepped into the role that they were called to assume. They knew without question that if God was in the equation, they could do what it was that had to be done. There are risks that have to been taken. I love what Usuguk, a character in Lincoln Child’s book, Terminal Freeze, says about risk taking; “If you are going to walk on thin ice, you might as well dance.”
Christol was seriously considering trying to beat the train while she had her foot on the brake! There is a moral in this; you can’t move forward if your foot is on the brake. There are times in our personal, professional and spiritual lives that we have to let go and go for it. We have to be willing to move forward without hesitation and to “Choose with no regret” (Mary Anne Radmacher), knowing that if God is part of the equation, we can do what it is that has to be done.
Judith Bell
Copyright © Judith Bell 2010
So, imagine my shock when she tried to kill me a couple of weeks ago! I promise; this is the honest to goodness truth. She will try to deny this but, I couldn’t make this up if I tried. My car was in the shop and she offered to be my chauffer. We had run an errand and were on the way back to the office. Unexpectedly, there was the loud blaring of a train whistle. Before I could even locate the train on the tracks, Christol was asking; “Do you think I can make it?”
Don’t get me wrong. I’ve taken the chance and crossed the tracks after hearing the train whistle. So, it wasn’t that I opposed her thinking about it. My indignation is that when I finally located the train, it was on MY side of the car and was less than 500 feet away! And, to make matters worse, she had her foot on the brake as she was asking the question!
In order to keep to the truth, I admit that I didn’t handle her action, or should I say inaction, very well. I know that there was at least one expletive that was uttered because the second thing out of my mouth after a shouted and basically hysterical “NO!” was “Oh the heck NO! This coming from the person who was just griping about having to have her bumper replaced but was willing to have the whole right side of her car smashed in? I don’t think so!” (Ok, maybe, but just maybe, I didn’t say “heck.”)
The Bible is full of people, Biblical role models, who took risks; Abraham, Rahab, Ester, the disciples, just to name a few. What did all of those risk takers have in common? Faith. They answered God’s call and willingly stepped into the role that they were called to assume. They knew without question that if God was in the equation, they could do what it was that had to be done. There are risks that have to been taken. I love what Usuguk, a character in Lincoln Child’s book, Terminal Freeze, says about risk taking; “If you are going to walk on thin ice, you might as well dance.”
Christol was seriously considering trying to beat the train while she had her foot on the brake! There is a moral in this; you can’t move forward if your foot is on the brake. There are times in our personal, professional and spiritual lives that we have to let go and go for it. We have to be willing to move forward without hesitation and to “Choose with no regret” (Mary Anne Radmacher), knowing that if God is part of the equation, we can do what it is that has to be done.
Judith Bell
Copyright © Judith Bell 2010
Thursday, September 2, 2010
Separation Anxiety
Shoe leather must be one of my favorite things. It seems that I’m always opening my mouth; taking one foot out only to put the other one in. You’d think by now that I’d know how to tame my tongue, or at the very least, know when to keep my mouth shut. Obviously, I don’t because I’ve done it yet again.
My two month custody of JJ (the red metal flying pig) ends today. I started preparing for JJ’s departure last week. I moved her from my office because I wanted to get used to the empty spot on my filing cabinet and I wanted time to explain JJ’s absence to others. JJ’s co-owner showed up and I’m all ready to hand her over, and lo and behold he presents me with Flower (a pygmy pink metal pig with wings), JJ’s new sister and says that I can keep JJ! Yea for me!
I should have left well enough alone; but I didn’t. I sent a bragging email to a mutual friend letting him know JJ was mine to keep and as I bonus I also now had Flower. That would have been the perfect place to stop; but I didn’t. What I did was call JJ’s co-owner a “sucker” and “that by batting my big brown eyes, I had managed to get what I wanted – sole custody of JJ.” I should have stopped there; but I didn’t. I had to mention the email and it appears that I won’t have sole custody of JJ until pigs fly!
Now, I’m back to where I started; not wanting to share JJ. Three weeks ago I said that I had learned some lessons from JJ, including,
• You can’t always assume that what you want is what you will get
• Life is full of compromises
• There are benefits to sharing even those things you don’t want to let go of
• Life is a story that unfolds a little bit each day
… Well, I might have believed those lessons then, but as her imminent departure approaches, I’m having separation anxiety. Actually, this week with JJ was the source of another life lesson – God never moves. In fact in Malachi 3:6 there is the bold proclamation; “I the LORD do not change.” The desire of God’s heart is to be with me, to be one with me, to fill me with all that He is and express all that He is through me. God doesn’t change positions; I’m the one that moves away from Him and the desires He has for me.
I’m the one who has to do the soul searching to determine if my heart’s desire matches God’s desires for me. And though God yearns to be close to me, I am the one that experiences the angst during times of separation. What I am forced to acknowledge is that I can’t keep the desires of God’s heart first and foremost when I fill my heart with things, thoughts and activities that cause me to move away from him.
Perhaps the anxiety of separation creates within me the need to evaluate whose desires have priority. Removing self and replacing God’s desires for mine lessens the anxiety. God is always there; a place of refuge, peace and security. He will not separate Himself from me; therefore I will not be anxious.
Judith Bell 9/2/10
Copyright © 2010 Judith Bell
My two month custody of JJ (the red metal flying pig) ends today. I started preparing for JJ’s departure last week. I moved her from my office because I wanted to get used to the empty spot on my filing cabinet and I wanted time to explain JJ’s absence to others. JJ’s co-owner showed up and I’m all ready to hand her over, and lo and behold he presents me with Flower (a pygmy pink metal pig with wings), JJ’s new sister and says that I can keep JJ! Yea for me!
I should have left well enough alone; but I didn’t. I sent a bragging email to a mutual friend letting him know JJ was mine to keep and as I bonus I also now had Flower. That would have been the perfect place to stop; but I didn’t. What I did was call JJ’s co-owner a “sucker” and “that by batting my big brown eyes, I had managed to get what I wanted – sole custody of JJ.” I should have stopped there; but I didn’t. I had to mention the email and it appears that I won’t have sole custody of JJ until pigs fly!
Now, I’m back to where I started; not wanting to share JJ. Three weeks ago I said that I had learned some lessons from JJ, including,
• You can’t always assume that what you want is what you will get
• Life is full of compromises
• There are benefits to sharing even those things you don’t want to let go of
• Life is a story that unfolds a little bit each day
… Well, I might have believed those lessons then, but as her imminent departure approaches, I’m having separation anxiety. Actually, this week with JJ was the source of another life lesson – God never moves. In fact in Malachi 3:6 there is the bold proclamation; “I the LORD do not change.” The desire of God’s heart is to be with me, to be one with me, to fill me with all that He is and express all that He is through me. God doesn’t change positions; I’m the one that moves away from Him and the desires He has for me.
I’m the one who has to do the soul searching to determine if my heart’s desire matches God’s desires for me. And though God yearns to be close to me, I am the one that experiences the angst during times of separation. What I am forced to acknowledge is that I can’t keep the desires of God’s heart first and foremost when I fill my heart with things, thoughts and activities that cause me to move away from him.
Perhaps the anxiety of separation creates within me the need to evaluate whose desires have priority. Removing self and replacing God’s desires for mine lessens the anxiety. God is always there; a place of refuge, peace and security. He will not separate Himself from me; therefore I will not be anxious.
Judith Bell 9/2/10
Copyright © 2010 Judith Bell
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