Friday Night Lights
Friday night was a warm rainy night in which I had the opportunity to sit, stand, and cheer for 6 of our youth at the Sanderson versus Millbrook football game. Unfortunately for Sanderson, the problem isn’t the fact that they got blown out by Millbrook, no, the problem is not only did they lose their starting quarterback to a broken leg, but they lost their backup quarterback to a knee injury and another player to a collapsed lung. As the ambulance rounded the field and headed for the far sideline to pick up the youth with the internal injuries (possible collapsed lung), we all cringed at the thought of a High School football player having to be brought off the field by an ambulance. I later found out that the starting quarterback had a broken leg. I also found out that that quarterback has a track scholarship, a full ride, to High Point University, which could be in jeopardy because of his injury.
I know about football and injuries too well as I have had to watch one of our own deal with two surgeries this past year and as you read this, he is dealing with another separated shoulder that will require surgery as soon as the season is out. I have watched him double over in pain, I have seen the look of agony on his face and I watch as the training staff makes him do exercises and stretches as he lies on the training table. Still, he plays. He goes out every game and gives it his all. It would take him not being able to lift his arms or move his feet to get him off that field. The passion I see in his eyes and the determination in his swagger makes me long for him to succeed.
Another of our seniors plays football as well. He has been lucky not to suffer any major injuries. He is working on getting a college scholarship but through track. I watch him too. He amazes me with how much he cares and how much of himself he leaves on the field. I watched as he left that field on Friday night. I saw the tears in his eyes as I hugged him on the 40 yard line.
I love football. Football is a game. Why have so much passion for a game? God gives us passion for the things that mean the most to us. Football is hard work, they practice every day, they memorize plays, they get hurt, they bleed, they cry. Their best friends are out there with them. In some cases, they are protecting their best friends. Why so much passion? Because they love it! Because God gave them the ability and talent to achieve great things on the field. Because it is what they love to do!
So I say this, I love the game, I love their passion for the game, but most of all, I love 78 and 59!
