You know its coming but...

In the Crusader Football program, like any good football program, the offensive coaches spend a lot of their time teaching the quarterback and the other offensive players how to recognize a blitz. Depending on game situation, you know its coming, but you just have to identify from where? Sometimes it comes from unlikely places and in ways that force an immediate decision... "Does the quarterback stand in the pocket and deliver the ball or does he scramble?"

Last Sunday afternoon, Aaron had a guitar recital and we were blessed to attend as a family... as a full family of 9! The recital was held at an assisted living facility and was packed full of piano players and guitar players, their families and friends, and residents of the facility. We had a great time, the music was wonderfully pleasant, and it was nice just to relax a little with the kids. Soon after Aaron played a sweet rendition of Amazing Grace and the recital was officially over, a sweet little 90 something summoned me over near her. It seemed that she had something she wanted to share... it was then I recognized a blitz coming!!

"What is all of this?" she asked. "All of what?" I replied. "All of this black-white stuff!" she scoffed. "Excuse me!?" I said. "What are you doing with them people?" she asked. "Why don't you leave them to their own people?" "We are their people!" I retorted. "We love them... they're our kids." "This is wrong!" she said. "You think so?" I asked. "They belong with their own people!" she said again. "What's wrong with it?" I asked. ... and then I saw the opening... "Isn't it a good thing that someone loves them? Don't you have someone that loves you? ... and as quickly as the blitz came, it was over. God allowed me to stand in the pocket.

I have no idea about the ultimate outcome of this dialogue. I don't know anything about this little 90 something that needs help getting in and out of her chair and can barely walk with a walker. I don't know what she is thinking, or what beliefs and prejudices have been dumped into her head. I don't know if anyone loves her. And then in my mind I hear Aaron playing Amazing Grace. It is only through God's amazing grace that we have the capacity to love at all. It is only by God's grace that we are able to let go of our prejudices. James 1:27 says, "This is pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father, to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world." I don't even know her name.