Tay, Benny, doc, Jordan, Miss, and I made our way to the beautiful grass soccer/volleyball/frisbee park located within our little slice of heaven, yesterday. The sun was bright, breeze was light, and the mood even lighter. The grass was cut low and tight – very, very nice. The two goals were solid and looked like new. There were a handful of kids playing volleyball, a few kicking around a soccer ball, and a father/daughter combo tossing a frisbee. We tossed our belongings to the side and began to play a little “one touch” together. Jordan laughed at my first,second, and third attempts and commented it was rather obvi who was the fish out of water in this little group. He’s right too. I grew up not knowing the game of soccer existed. My first touch came at college during intra-murder as we called it. I do love the game, however, as all our children have played with Jordan & Taylor playing very well, I might add.
After one of my errant kicks led to another, I found myself in the middle of the pitch retrieving the ball and noticed one of “the strangers” making some slight eye contact. Instantly I asked him if he and his friend wanted to play. His friend answered for him – “I’m dying to,” he replied like he meant it! I introduced myself and asked if they played on a team anywhere. “Trinity,” they replied together. Tay and team heard this and replied they had played each other this past year in Kentucky where Trinity is from. They shook hands and recalled the game. Benny told them Tay had scored the game winner on ’em. Everybody laughed as they recalled details of the game and how far both their respective teams had gone in their State tournaments. It is a small, connected world – isn’t it…
Our game began moments later.
It didn’t start out so great as yours truly was in goal and my lack of skills led to a quick lead for the Trinity, talent laden bunch. Jordan played with “them” to even the teams at four players apiece. I was, without a doubt, the weak link. It was 5-1 when Tay and team began to kick it in gear. Before long the score was 7-5 with Trinity still leading but momentum swinging Liberty’s way. I was yelling out the score and encouragement while doc, Benny, and Tay did the tough sledding. Being on the pitch with them took me back about 9 years, if my mind is to be trusted. It’s been 9 years since I last coached Tay and played in any kinda pick up game with him. I was amazed at how fast he looks on the field as oppossed to from the stands and how hard the ball comes in as my face took one before my hands had time to react. We had playing for what seemed like hours as sweat began to bead on my brow and my left hip began to signal it had had enough. The Trinity boys must have been tiring too as they shouted out “first one to 10 wins.” The game was now, officially, on.
Benny notched the score at 9 apiece with a nifty move around their goalie and you could feel something special in the air, at least I did. A few minutes later after what I recall as an amazing, fingertip save :), I dribbled the ball out of the box and found my son making another one of his patented runs up the left side. I got the ball off my foot and onto his in an instant. He dribbled by Jordan as if he was stuck in mud, cutting hard to the right, he quickly dispatched the duo from Trinity, and now was in full throttle mode as he musta measured the goalie in an instant before slotting the ball in the side net for the game winner. Without breaking stride he ran past the goal, ripped off his shirt and began to celebrate with doc & Benny. We all shook hands and smiled. I wasn’t the only one kinda spent. doc, Benny, and the Trinity guys talked about seeing each other next year as the two schools are set for a rematch. Trinity, you see, was no longer “them,” they were part of us. Bono is right – there is no them. Very cool. I smiled as that thought registered and knowing, at the same instant, Tay would miss that game. Tay would no longer be on this team. Tay, you see, will be playing college ball by then…
He’ll be at college, my mind continued to try to register. Tay is going to college, remember. For now, however, Tay and team are with Miss and I. And, we are playing together. We are getting tired together. We are making memories laced with meaning. Yesterday, I went back in time so to speak. I played on Tay’s team. I participated and what a different perspective from the pitch. I’m smiling as I write and recall sitting next to my Miss. Who knows where today’s play will take us, who we’ll meet along the way, and what it all will mean. Who knows?
He does…
BUILT TO LEAD 