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Guest Circuits |
Learning from SoccerBy Nathan Ullrich
On Saturday we had a chance to work through a very emotional day together. Our team went undefeated through the tournament with only 1 goal being scored on us. "My goalie" did fantastic and had several saves to keep our team on their feet but in the end it came down to the team. The final game was decided by a set of penalty kicks and we lost. Even though the goalie made an incredible save that kept us in the game, two of our offensive players missed their shots and the game was given to a team that we should have beaten and could have beat 9 out of 10 games. The goalie couldn't save the game and it turns out that the team captain was the one that missed the final penalty kick. Nobody thought the most seasoned player on the team would miss the penalty kick but he did and the inexperienced goalie was presented with a chance to shine. He did but it wasn't enough. I don't know why things took the shape that they did, I just know that God's will was in it. Sometimes the roles on a team change. Sometimes people are called to play a role that doesn't normally belong to them. Our timing and plans often don't align with God's. The goalie that tried to save the game told me during tryouts, "I haven't played in 5 years, I don't really expect to play. Just put me on a team so that I can practice." 2 weeks into the season the starting goalie tore his ACL and Lance became the one and only goalie. God changed his role, and he played a very particular part in the team. For this to be a true hero story the goalie would have saved the game where the captain fell short but in reality the game was still lost and God was still glorified in it. Life doesn't always make sense. We don't know what the outcome will be, and we don't know what our role will be in achieving God's will. I am finding more and more that this concept is my life-story here in Thailand. God has things planned for me and I am constantly in search of those plans. I may not ever know those plans in my time. I may not know my role in the team, but I do know that I am supposed to be a part of the team. The team may experience hardship, blessing, or some of both, but I can rest assured that I will be part of the team and play a role. I wish some days that I knew in advance the excitement that awaits me around the next bend, but then what would happen to the adventure. God's way is the best way. It might be the long way, uphill way, or dark way but it is the right way. We play a role for His glory! |
Last weekend we had our final soccer
tournament. It was an incredible personal learning experience for me. I am
technically an assistant coach for all of the school's soccer teams
specializing in the goalies, but I was sucked into the men's varsity team as a
more direct coach when I was able to really connect with some of the kids. God
has blessed me with the privilege of mentoring several of these young men as
the season progressed.
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