Respect

from a social media post on 26 November 2024

Last night got to see local high school basketball; great plays and sometimes minor awkward action. Don’t we all get in our own way sometimes? Overly excited to have the ball and tripping over our own feet, or backing into something bigger than ourselves we weren’t aware was there? Like any toss at the basket, if the geometry of the attempt to score isn’t quite right, our best attempts bounce off the back board or rim. If we are lucky, a friend grabs it and helps score, if not an opponent takes the ball and runs.

One of the most important lessons in life is instilled in those school games— at the beginning and end. At the start, the ‘ready to play let’s go’ to fellow teammates, respect to the officials, and hello to opponents. Maybe even more important and difficult, the pass by of the teams who played hard at the end — learning to be gracious. Defeat is hard to take, but so is containing the elation of winning. Both have excessive tempting reactions that can ruin the game for all.

Last night the games were not ruined, though this morning some maybe frustrated by the recorded outcome. Tonight will be another game and tomorrow more still. Let’s hope they all will strive to improve their skills and keep playing. Respect for the efforts.