August 10th, 2014

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Practice

Sunday, August 10th, 2014

“Practice makes perfect.” So I’ve been told. I’m not so sure about it since I practiced basketball a lot and never got perfect. 😉 I missed my share of shots, rebounds, and free throws.

“The way you practice in practice is the way you will play in the game.” Aha! Maybe that explains why I was never perfect. 🙂 Seriously, and you may not believe this, I never fooled around a lot in practice. I seldom took shots which I would never take in a game unless pressed (like the last second shot). I knew I was a center and so I practiced shooting the ones I would shoot in a game.

I do know this:  practicing did make me better. It is a horror story to think of my first foray onto a basketball court of organized ball. I was gangly, unaware of basketball fundamentals, and could not dribble a ball to save my life. But my coach made me practice on the sidelines dribbling a ball (okay kicking it more often than not) while my teammates did other drills. I’m not sure if he saw potential in me or had pity.

This past Thursday Jo & I made an emergency trip to Ohio to help with our grandson. Janna was in special training for school and no children were allowed. No one volunteered on FB to watch him on Friday except Jo. I suspect everyone who might have withdrew their name when they realized she had and they would suffer her wrath. The plan was to ride in the morning while Jo got him up and moving, then take him to lunch, and then to a school where he could ride his bike.

The dude had been practicing. The last time I was with him riding (last Fall) we both took a spill. He on his bike, and me while trying to hold him up. In the meantime he had received a new bike. While on vacation last month, I bought him a helmet, but we had no time. This visit I would make time. What a difference practice makes!! He was zipping around the school lot, a totally different rider than the last time. He is “somewhat” competitive so we made a game of it seeing how fast he could make this loop. He quit when he tired out and after he had his best time.

The life of a Christ-follower is much the same way. Practicing-living out our faith-is to be a daily practice. It is something the Holy Spirit empowers us to live in a way which brings honor and glory to Jesus. “Faith without works is dead” James wrote.

Live out your faith.