Again with the sad face, America?

Like all of us, I mourn with the folks of Boston, the participants and spectators, family and loved ones of anyone remotely connected to the Marathon yesterday. Friends, I'm so tired. Aren't you tired? I feel like here we are again with another sad face as a country. Again and again the loss of life is senseless. We don't even know who is behind this attack yet, and it doesn't even matter to me. It's heartbreaking...

Will we get to the point where we are living in constant fear of our normal routines? Will we become so adjusted to tragedy that it becomes a way of life. If I ever stop shedding tears for those suffering tragedy I will know I've adjusted. I hope I never adjust. Last night, many hours after learning the news of the Boston Marathon bombings I finally sat down to focus on the news coverage. Courtesy of the news networks I received a front row view of exactly what happened. My 13 year old had already done her own research and was blown away that something so awful could happen to people just trying to do something they love. Simply heartbreaking. I shed my tears. My heart aches for those affected by this. Another sad face for America. I am so tired of frowning.

Then I went to Facebook. Lots of folks lifting up prayers to those affected. Following every cry of injustice, those posts go round and round. I wish people were praying when things were good. If we as a people consistently sought God we would know that prayer changes things; that lives are changed, protected, shielded by the Great One, just because of our prayers. But, for the most part, we don't. We get wrapped up in our own lives and we forget to put God first. Until tragedy strikes. What would happen if we reversed the pattern? What if we consistently prayed and sought God and when tragedy got ready to hit we were so prayed up, so juiced up on God we saw the miraculous pieced together? We would see God move mountains.

The one thing I took away from social media's coverage last night was the repeated quote by Mr. Rogers. Man, who didn't love Mr. Rogers when they were young? I mean, the man took the time to change his shoes, while giving us good advice, and singing us a song. A gentleman. His quote said his mom taught him to look for the helpers in any tragedy. Focus on that. Man, that's good stuff. The good in folks springs right into action when the situation calls for it. Always. Every story has a hero. Many heros. I pray for that. I pray that should tragedy find us unexpectedly the good in people will take over the fear. Thank God for that yesterday.

I don't want to live imprisoned by fear. I don't want my kids to grow up thinking fear is their neighbor, their friend or their constant companion. Yet over and over again America is saddened by the loss of life because of an individual or a group. We want to get to the source so we can answer the "why." But when it's answered, what do we do about it? Do we change laws? Do we revamp our entire mental health system? Often we don't. As a country we are broken. Our government can't agree on much of anything, our financial state is a mess. There is so much division an disunity it's sickening. We attack each other for sport leaving lots of open holes for the enemy to creep in and rip the hole into a deep, infected gash. Then the next tragedy hits and we are left saddened again. It's time to stop frowning, America. It's time to take action in the good times. It's time to be proactive instead of reactive. When nothing's happening something should be happening. We shouldn't be making plans to deal with the next tragedy or massive episode of fear. Waiting for it to happen. We don't think our individual selves can make a difference, but we can. Each one of us has the power to change our hearts, to be more loving, to seek God more, to not be hostile or confrontational. It's heavy on my heart this morning, I'm sure yours too. America is sad again. I'm so tired of being sad.

Call Me 'Coach?!?'

The thing about metaphors, common sayings and phrases is not only the visual picture they give you that helps you understand what the speaker is saying, but the resonant truth to the saying is what really gets you. So when I say I "bit the bullet" I mean I can taste the cold steel in my mouth. Figuratively, of course. But it sure feels real. I can taste the bullet I have bitten and let me tell you, it tastes bad. Or uncomfortable, is probably a better way to describe the emotional roller coaster I have set myself upon.

I would say I've done a great job stalling on stepping up to the plate to actually coach one of my kids in their beloved sports. In my defense, from my comfortable perspective I have hardly viewed it as a stall tactic. Well, it's time to admit to you. That which was a reluctant option has now become a decided on choice. I've been flung over to the other side. Like "whole body, pitched into icy water" flung over. Not sounding so much like "decided on" huh? You know how it is. This back and forth in your mind between what you don't want to do, what you feel like doing and what you know you should do. Now that I'm doggy paddling out here in this little old lake that I've been thrown in, I see this whole coaching thing completely different. The Hub tells me it really isn't even a lake. More like a kiddy pool. Yet here I am, arms flailing, feet splashing and gulping for air. In a kiddy pool. You don't have to tell me to get a grip. The Hub, and my sweet children have already had their chuckles at my expense, and have encouraged me to embrace my new endeavor. I'm a big girl; I can admit it: I was definitely stalling on this one.

With four kids, you would think it was inevitable. You would think at some point one of those kids would need a coach and I would stop ignoring the pleading emails and donate my time and energy. You would think. But I would venture to say there ARE some parents out there who have multiple children and have not EVER crossed the game field lines into dark and scary world of coaching. But rather, they are the same ones sitting comfortably with me on Saturday mornings. Sweatshirts keeping us toasty since the morning sun hasn't burned off the chill in the air quite yet. Doing that little "I'm chilly" shake, while pleased as punch to be out watching our kids. Sitting in our little game chairs that are specially made to keep our rumps comfy as we sit. Really hot cup of coffee, sweetened just right, in that beautiful travel mug made for just these occasions. The cup might as well say "I'm spectating like it's my job."

And then it's game time. You should know I can cheer, yell, jump, shake my head and cover my eyes with the best of them. In fact, over the past 12 years I have perfected my pitch, tone, appropriate responses, and most especially my game faces. It's all about the faces. Well, now that has become my previous life. Somewhere round about the 3rd email strongly pleading for someone, anyone, to step up and coach boys U7 soccer, I caved. Okay, at the 2nd email I thought about it strongly and was fully prepared to defend myself with that should I ever be questioned about why I was not coaching. I mean, at least I thought about it. Yet, here came that pretty little 3rd email. And what was a mama to do?

Sure, I played soccer when I was a kid. But I was the one who quit eventually. Moved on to something else, and now that was so long ago I can barely remember it. Obviously relying on previous personal skills is not my selling point as a coach. Shockingly my husband and kids didn't mind pointing that out to me. They just want to keep me humble, that's all. Here I find myself in this little situation, and my boy needed me. I've got Soccer Chick playing travel soccer this season, Bball Girl is playing basketball like she gets paid for it and then there's youngest. Couldn't have my little ball of sunshine coachless, no could I? So up I stepped, and what do you know, I got me a team. Say what?!?

The great thing about leadership really boils down to who you place around you. Smart leaders place strategically. A really great leader places people around her who not only helps her, but knows more than her. In this case, I'm feeling pretty smart. Smug even. My assistant coaches are none other than Soccer Chick and Bball Girl. What fool wouldn't put these two athletes to work? Shoot, whatchu talkin' bout? I might not be the best person for the job but I have two energetic, athletic, young, sports-minded girls to run this show. Did I mention "young?" All I've got to do is show up with a plan and put these girls to work. The boys will love them!

So I've got my plan in place and now I just have to implement the plan. As any leader knows, a plan is just that...a plan. It does nothing if you don't do something with it. Which means, I'll be out there on the field, running with these boys, trying to teach them what I'm not an expert at myself. I mean, it's ten (yes, 10!) under 7 boys. How hard could it be? Google helps with this, right? Give them a ball and some cones and two goals and we've got a game. This thrust-from-sports-chair mom-coach thinks this should be easy...right? Trust me, no one is laughing more, and finding the humor in all this, than I am. Here's to the chalk lines that shall be drawn on the playing field! Wait...how does that happen, anyway?