Growing up, I wanted to be a basketball player. After moving to Texas in the mid 80’s, I dreamed of playing for the Lady Longhorns under coach Jody Conradt. As a seventh-grader, being part of my first basketball team, I remember having to wear these special glasses in practice. If you’re not familiar with them, imagine blacked-out glasses, but instead of being up over your eyes, they are set horizontally from the bottom of your eyes out. The purpose is to keep you from looking down at the ball while you’re dribbling.

In basketball, if you’re looking down at the ball you’re not seeing anything else. You miss the defender who may come up to steal the ball. You don’t see your open teammate for a shot. Or you might even head down the wrong side of the court, as you’re so focused on the ball you’ve become disoriented and unaware of anything else. Basically, you have a narrow, limited view. 

Recently, I’ve found myself thinking I need some of these glasses, not because I’m starting to play basketball again, but because I need them for my life. I can easily get focused on myself or others and miss the bigger picture of knowing and following Him. Instead of enjoying the beauty and greatness of God, I’m lost in my little world. Much like looking down at the ball in basketball, the results can be disastrous: jealousy, pride, envy, strife, condemnation, to name a few. 

So just like the drills and practice we did in basketball to get our eyes off the ball, I’m working on the things that keep my eyes on Him. As I do, I find peace and rest. I find fullness of joy and life. I find who I really am instead of who I, or others, think I should be. 

Just like learning to dribble and play basketball, it’s not alway easy and I sometimes trip and fall. But this is a fight I’m not willing to give up. I’m committed to the training and learning what it is like to know Him more, walk in His ways, and be who I am in Christ.

Who are you to judge the servant of another? To his own master he stands or falls; … (Romans 14:4 NASB)

I look up to the mountains – does my help come from there? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth! (Psalm 121:1-2 NLT)