The Old Basketball Hoop

When I was growing up, along with my two brothers, we had this great big basketball goal outside in our back yard. My dad and some of the neighbors erected this home made basket and backboard, nailed to an old telephone pole, in our back yard. We kids took it from there, dribbling and shooting for years upon years.

Now, I’m sure my father didn’t exactly love the fact that we killed all of his grass around that goal, but he never said anything to us about it. Oh sure, he planted grass seed out there a couple of springs. But when it became apparent that this was a losing battle, and that no grass would ever grow on our homemade court again, he gave up.

I think pop was far happier knowing his boys were having a great time outside, shooting hoops and having fun with our friends.

We learned a lot of things playing basketball in our backyard. We learned how to work together through endless games of 2 on 2, or 3 on 3 with friends. We learned creativity, in coming up with more and more imaginative ways to get the ball into the basket. We learned sportsmanship, trust, and even love out there too.

We also learned that if we dreamed big dreams, and believed in them with all our hearts, we could make them come true with determination and sweat. My brother , for example, proved a lot of folks wrong, who while well meaning, thought he was too short to play basketball in high school, let alone college.

He ended up playing well at both levels.

So, was God present there too? Was He looking down upon us, pleased that we were learning all of these valuable skills?

While no one can say for sure, I tend to look back at those happy times and think He was quite happy watching us play. Kids learn a lot of lessons interacting with other kids. Given the right environment, most kids will work things out for themselves. God gave us free will, and I think it pleases Him when He sees us exercising it well. I think it pleased Him to watch us playing basketball, having a great time, and growing up together all at the same time.

Nothing escapes His watchful eye, and His love. He expresses Himself in a myriad of ways, and through many different people in our lives. Yes, we do see God in other people, and I’m confident looking back that I saw God in the enthusiastic eyes and smiles of my brothers and our friends, playing our hearts out around that old basketball hoop. I wouldn’t trade those times, or those lessons, for anything now. In so many ways, they helped mold me into the person I am today.

And, I’m reasonably confident that God was pretty darn happy having me learn about life shooting baskets with those nearest to me.

-The Minister