A Future And A Hope

I had an idea of what to write here today and will probably use it either tomorrow or later this week. But after I got back from dropping the boy off at school, I was pouring myself my 3rd cup of coffee when a story came on ESPN that made everything around me come to a complete stop.

It was the story of the East Greenbush New York Devils. They are members of the Pop Warner Challenger League, a sort of "flag football" league for disabled children. With every child in this league suffering from such diblitating conditions like down's syndrome to cerbral palsy, this is an opportunity for these precious children to get to play and enjoy the game of football in a way that is special to them, their families and anyone in attendance.

"The mission of the Challenger League is to bring the Pop Warner Little Scholars experience to those special needs individuals that would normally not be given that chance. The Challenger program is non-competitive and no score will be kept. The games, however, model after a regular game with warm ups, a coin toss and singing of the National Anthem, etc. "

I began to watch these children and their "partners", often a parent or sibling, run down the field carrying a football in their lap as their "partner" pushed them. Everyone on the field, rather than try to stop the ball runner, was instead running along side them, cheering and pumping their fists in the air triumphantly...as though they themselves were about to score. I remember specifically one older boy with down's syndrome. He was probably in his mid to late teens and he was running along side a younger child in a wheelchair. This young man had a fierce look of determination on his face...not to try and prevent the boy in the wheelchair from crossing the goalline, but to make sure no one got in his way from doing so.

His arms pumping like a sprinter's in a heated relay, a steely-eyed glare on his brow and his legs carrying him as fast as they could, he ran beside his younger friend in the wheelchair, whooping and hollering as they ran. When they finally crossed the goalline, the crowd stood and jumped and cheered. The faces of the two boys, along with the younger boy's partner, were beaming with an almost spiritual glow. Smiles a mile and a half wide.

Memories made that would last a lifetime.

I tried to hold back the tears as I watched this scene of exhuberance and sheer elation but I couldn't. I cried for these kids, knowing they would probably never be able to lace up a pair of Nikes and run themselves into the endzone during their high school homecoming. I cried for the fact that many of these kids will not even make it to their 15th birthday. I cried for the parents who knew these facts all too well. I cried for all of us who take our lives and the lives of our children for granted.

I realized our kids may live "normal" lives and be able to walk, talk, play and run like others. Our kids don't live with the fear of whether or not the next seizure they have might be their last. We look at our kids and think how we're going to get him out in the yard and push him to be the best running back in town and he's not even in kindergarten yet. We wonder if we can mold our daughters into world class gymnasts, performing for all to see on the Olympic stage.

Yet we don't stop to think about how each of these families involved with the Challenger League have taken the dreams and hopes they once had and have now had to create new ones. Dreams that certainly don't waste time on whether or not Bobby was the fastest kid on the field or Susie scored a perfect 10 on the balance beam.

No. I'd bet these dreams are focused on their children living happy, pain-free lives. I bet these parents, even as stressed as they probably get, cherish each moment they have with their kids. They've come to realize the importance and value of a concept so many of us disregard.

Time with your kids.

How selfish we can be at times...never wanting to look around at those who may not have as much as we do. Never wanting to acknowledge how fortunate we are to have the lives we do without considering those who pursue life by making the most of each moment. Never wanting to give our own kids the time they deserve, not investing in their lives, asking them about their day at school or even stopping what we're doing that very moment to head out in the yard to play trucks with them in the dirt.

Why don't we do that...today? Thank God Almighty for the life He has blessed you with and be thankful for ALL He has given you. I am so thankful for a God of love and mercy whose Spirit of love and compassion has revealed itself in the essence of this football league. There is such joy and celebration on the field...such encouragement, respect and love for each other.

And there is one other thing very evident in the eyes of everyone on that field:

hope.

Jeremiah 29:11 says it beautifully.

"For I know the plans I have for you...plans for your welfare, not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope."

God is so good.