 |
Dear Friends,
Every once in awhile a news story comes along that reaches way down deep inside us to remind us of our innate goodness ... how we are made in the image of God.
Such a story has been in the news this week.
On a Saturday night in early February, two high school basketball teams were scheduled to play a routine basketball game in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The DeKalb (Illinois) Barbs and Milwaukee Madison Knights would continue their friendly rivalry across state lines, then meet for pizza following the game.
As the DeKalb team was making the nearly three hour trip to Milwaukee, the Knights were grieving the sudden and unexpected death of the mother of one of their teammates. Senior captain Johntel Franklin’s 39-year-old mother, Carlita, lost her long battle with cancer late that afternoon.
Milwaukee coach Aaron Womack, Jr. wanted to cancel the game, but Franklin urged him to let the team play without him. So the game went on as scheduled, despite the heavy sadness that hung over the gymnasium.
Coach Womack says he and everyone else were shocked when Johntel appeared at the game at the beginning of the second quarter. He called a time-out. Team members rushed to hug and comfort their grieving teammate. Fans poured from the stands and did the same. Johntel later said he just needed to be with his team and his friends for support.
Womack asked him to sit on the bench with his team, but Franklin said he wanted to play.
Because Johntel was not on the pre-game roster, the Milwaukee team would have to take a technical foul, giving DeKalb two free-throws. Despite the score being close — with the possibility of the small-town team beating the big-city team — DeKalb coach Dave Rohlman told the referees to forget the technical and let Franklin play. After several minutes of debate, the refs insisted they would have to follow the rules. DeKalb would have to shoot.
Senior captain Darius McNeal volunteered to go to the line. He looked at Coach Rohlman. They each nodded a silent nod of understanding.
McNeal went to the line. He dribbled a few times and looked at the rim. He took his first shot. The ball went about two feet and hit the floor, bouncing toward the basket. The second shot was even feebler. Everyone understood. They had followed the rules and took their required shots. And in those two shots they showed all the love and support they could muster for their grieving comrade.
This story has been national news for days. It has received world-wide attention. We can’t help but be touched by the actions of these young men.
Such stories should be celebrated! In the midst of so much bad news, good news is powerful and life-giving.
As we now enter the season of Lent, focusing our attention on denial, betrayal, greed, power, last meals, crucifixion, suffering, and death, let us remember that Jesus was raised to new LIFE … and promises to raise us too. When we support one another in our darkest times, as those players did, we share the life-giving love and grace of Christ with our brothers and sisters. THAT is Good News indeed!
Pastor Ron
|
|
| Previous Pastor's Pages: |
| 2009 |
| 2008 |
| 2007 |
|
|
Howland United Methodist Church
730 Howland Wilson Rd NE
Warren, OH 44484
Phone: 330-856-3463
Fax: 330-856-7037
Website Comments
|
|
