Why didn’t I make it?

October 28, 2008 – 3:39 pm

   

I have played soccer all my life.  I started when I was five years old.  I scored my first goal when I was seven years old (from a defensive position I might add, sweeper for those of you that are soccer fans).   After my eighth grade year I told my parents how badly I wanted to play on the soccer team at the High School. 

 

My dad said I needed to get in shape, so that summer we started to run every morning.  The two of us would get up and go running.  It was so hard.  Running has never been my strong suite but we did it.  We even went to the beach for a week on vacation and Dad and I got up every morning and ran.  I can remember my Dad with his headband on, and me chugging along beside him, down the road parallel to the beach.  A beach I was not sitting on, or playing in the water, or making sand castles, nope it was a beach I was running next too.  I could smell the salty air, and hear the crash of the waves. Man it was tough, but it was definitely the most dedicated to something I had ever been.

 

The week came and it was time for try outs. Each day we ran and  practiced.  I ran so hard and played so hard.  I felt so good about it.  As the week ended, it was time to see who made the team.  The lists were posted in front of the school.  My best friend asked me if I wanted to ride up with his family and our friends to see the postings.  I of course said YES!  I was riding in the back of a van. There were 5 of us riding up to see the lists.  The other 4 were friends of mine.  All kids I had played soccer with for many years.  When we got there we all unloaded and headed up to the bulletin board.  I ran up and ran my finger down the Varsity list.  Nothing, then I ran my finger down the Junior Varsity list.  Nothing, my name wasn’t there at all.  I didn’t make the Varsity or the Junior Varsity.  I was devastated.  On top of that, my 4 friends all made the Varsity team as freshman.  Dejected, I got back in the van and sat in the back seat holding back my tears and leaning my head against the window.  I didn’t want to let on how upset I was.  My friend Danny kept looking back at me, I could see in his face how sorry he was.  He told the other guys to be quit a couple of times because they were celebrating and being loud about making the team. 

 

 I got dropped off at the top of my drive way.  I didn’t even make it down the driveway.  I sat at the top and cried.  I mean, CRIED!  It was so hard to want something so much and not get it.  I slowly found my way down the driveway and into the house.  I sat in my room and just looked at the wall for awhile.  When my Dad got home, he came into my room and sat next to me.  Mom had told him that I didn’t make the team.  Dad looked at me and he told me how very proud he was of me.  I looked up at him and among the tears that had stained my face a smile started to creep out.  We just kinda sat there for a while until dinner was ready. 

 

 Have you ever had something that you wanted so bad and didn’t end up getting it?   In life there are great things that happen and there are disappointments, there is happiness and there is sorrow, there is the good and there is the bad.  Yep, life is hard.  I wanted to play soccer so bad but God had other plans for me.  You see, I ended up taking some computer courses at the community college where my mom worked.  I got some college credit for some of those classes but on top of that I learned a lot about computers.  To this day I use my computer knowledge in a lot of different ways.  God had a different plan for me, I would of only played soccer for a short period of time in High School but I will always have the skills that I learned while taking those classes.  I would of never been able to do both and still have time for my other classes.  God will lead you and guide you and show you the way.  It may not be what you want it to be but sometimes our life takes us in ways that we would of never thought of, and that is God leading the way.  So follow the path, go after what you want, but if you don’t make it, stop, talk to God and find out what he has planned for you.  You may be surprised.  Oh yeah, one more thing, I went to college and got a degree in Environmental Science Natural Resource Management, and I am the Director of Youth Ministries.  Thanks God!  I will explain that one another time!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Posted by Eric Hagman | Posted in General, Youth | Comments (0)

Friday Night Lights

October 11, 2008 – 8:58 pm

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!

Posted by Eric Hagman | Posted in General, Youth | Comments (0)

FOOT LONG Cold Cut Combo

October 2, 2008 – 10:51 am

I had a sandwich yesterday.

 Not just any Sandwich a FOOT LONG Cold Cut Combo from Subway.  I love them.  I had Italian bread and American cheese.  The meats were bologna, ham, and salami. There was mustard and mayonnaise, lettuce, tomato, pickles, banana peppers, jalapeño peppers, green peppers, salt and pepper, oil and vinegar.  

 It was SO GOOD!  I could eat one everyday and love every bite.  I could live off of them alone and not eat anything else or need anything else to be happy and fulfilled.

 Wait a minute!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 Isn’t there a food out there that you just absolutely love and you say that you could eat it everyday for the rest of your life?

 We often get caught up in those things that make us so happy.  Foods, activities, books, family, etc, are all things that we love and cherish. Everything that we find important and fun in our lives is great, but as Jesus said:

 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’ ” Matthew 4:4 NIV

 We often forget that there is more to life than the possessions that we have and the food that we eat.  We must remember to read and study the word of God and listen to hear him when he speaks to us.  Prayer, bible study, community service, and just living and being in the word, those are the things that God gives us to balance our lives.

So the next time you take a huge bite out of your favorite food and that smile creeps across your face as you savor the flavors.  Remember that you can also savor the flavor of your relationship with God!

Posted by Eric Hagman | Posted in General, Youth | Comments (1)

Waiting on the World….

September 21, 2008 – 9:52 am

 

 

Waiting on the World….

 to CHANGE

 

John Mayer wrote a song about waiting on the world to change.  Isn’t that what you want to do sometimes?  Just sit back and wait for the world to change.

  One of the lyrics is “it’s not that we don’t care, we just know that the fight ain’t fair.”

 Ok, so I know that I have felt that way before. When you feel what you are fighting for or against isn’t a fair fight, that no matter what you do you are pushed down.  You want something so bad but you feel you can’t change it or make things better, that your opinion doesn’t matter or that your love for something is insignificant and means nothing.  You just want to wait, wait on the world to change. 

 Tell me something. 

 Did David wait for the world to change when he fought Goliath?

  Did he run away? 

 Did he lean up against a tree with an apple in his hand and say “I am just going to wait here for the world to change?” 

 No, he didn’t.  He took action and he killed the giant, and in doing this, he did what?  He CHANGED the world! 

 Life is hard, things everyday will bring you down, people will be cruel, temptation is around every corner and who knows what will be in your path today. You have to stand up for what you believe in. You have to go forth in the world and make the changes that you want made.  You need to remember that there will always be forces in this world that are going to try and bring you down, try to tempt you, try to make you wait for the world to change.  When you wait you are in a state of indecisiveness and that is when temptation creeps in and causes bad things to happen.

 You must make the changes in the world, in your life.  We can lead you and guide you, God will always be with you, but you and your free-will must make the changes and fight for what is right in the world.

 So I want to rewrite the song and change the title to “Making the World Change.”  I want to say, “Yes we do care, and together we will make the fight fair.” So stop waiting and CHANGE THE WORLD!

Posted by Eric Hagman | Posted in General, Youth | Comments (0)

Belly of the Enemy

September 4, 2008 – 12:17 pm

1st Down Pirates…. Arghhhhhhhh……

I heard that over and over again last Saturday!  As the heat pounded down on us and the game became closer and closer, I could feel it slipping away!

As many of you know I am a HUGE Virginia Tech fan.  There is a story behind that but that is a later blog entry!  Anyway, Ellen got us tickets to the ECU and Virginia Tech game that was held in Charlotte last Saturday!  I was so excited and looking forward to the start of another football season.  We piled in a van and headed down to the game.  I was sitting in the front seat next to Laura in my Virginia Tech garb, and the other 5 people in the van decked out in ECU, purple and yellow!

When we got to the game, we found our seats, and I started to look around and realized just where I was.  I was in the belly of the enemy.  Nothing but purple and yellow surrounded me.  It was literally a sea of purple and gold and I stuck out like a sore thumb in my orange and maroon.  Not only was I surrounded, but I was in the student section, here I am sitting in a college football game’s student section, wearing the other team’s colors!  What was I thinking!!!!

As the game wore on ECU would do something good and you would hear the roar from the crowd surrounding me, and then Virginia Tech would do something good and I would stand up and cheer as loud as one man could…. So many times the College kids around me would heckle me about the game!  They asked me to move, they rubbed my shoulders any time ECU did something good, they gave me all kinds of grief.

It was really hard to be in that situation until ECU intercepted a pass and one of the guys got on me big time and I turned around to him and said “That was a heck of a defensive effort, what an interception!  ECU is out playing the Hokies today!”  He looked at me funny and then one of his buddies started to get on me and he said, “Stop man, that guy is a good guy! He should get a sportsmanship award for putting up with us all game!” I just turned around and smiled and watched the rest of the game.

ECU blocked a punt with 1 minute 30 seconds left and ran it back for a touchdown which ended up being the game winner.  As the clock ran out and the section was going crazy, I turned around and shook each of the guys hands and I told them it was a great game and their team played their hearts out and deserved to win the game.  That same kid smiled at me and said, “Thanks!” And he told the people with me, “He’s a good guy!”

Often we are put in tough situations and it is hard to make the decisions that life hands us.  I had to make a decision Saturday, how would I react to what was happening around me.  If I choose to confront those guys and cause trouble, who knows where the day would of gone, but I choose to enjoy myself, respect ECU and the way they were playing and try to teach those around me a little bit about self control and being in the belly of the enemy!

I will say though, next time, I want to sit with the VIRGINIA TECH fans!

Posted by Eric Hagman | Posted in Youth | Comments (0)

Watching Paint Dry!

August 25, 2008 – 3:43 pm

Have you ever heard that expression?

It’s as exciting as watching paint dry?

Normally that expression is stating that something is boring.  That something is not worth the time and energy because who would want to WATCH PAINT DRY?  Well to me that saying has taken on a whole new meaning lately!  I have had the privilege of literally watching paint dry as the basement of Saint Marks has begun to transform into what will be an awesome place for teens in our church and our community to come and hang out, worship, and be safe.  The possibilities of our paint drying are endless, from after school programs to weekend events, from Youth group to youth developed and led worship.  It is amazing the things that will be taking place here at Saint Marks.

I think the best part of this whole process has been watching our Youth and parents come together to make this project happen. To watch our Youth give their time and energy this summer to clean, move equipment, and paint has been wonderful!

1 Timothy 4 verse 12 says:

“Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity.”

That is such a powerful and true statement.  Our youth here at Saint Marks have so much to offer our community, our church and each other.  I am so excited to watch them grow, in spirit, mind, and faith as they continue to walk in the way of the Lord.

So the next time someone says something to you about watching paint dry, I want you to think about your church, your youth group and what you are accomplishing in your life.  Are you watching paint dry and creating for the future, or are you simply standing with the brush in your hand and the bucket by your side?

Let’s watch paint dry together and form our lives in Christ and our future in Saint Marks!

Posted by Eric Hagman | Posted in Youth | Comments (0)