|
“Your Church Won’t Let You”
I am training for my 3rd season as a women’s lacrosse umpire. In addition to exercise, studying a manual, and taking a test, I also receive a “field rating”, which was scheduled on a Sunday morning in Blaine.
After umpiring 2 games I received my results. The rating official gave me some excellent feedback and a promotion. She was going to recommend that I umpire both high school and college games. Yikes, I was just getting comfortable with the high school games, and now a new challenge!
I’m not sure where the Lord is leading me on this journey, but I have met a lot of nice umpires, coaches and players (and some not so nice). I have been to just about every private and public high school in the metro area. Last year I was selected to umpire several State playoff games. It’s a great game, and I’m fortunate to be a part of it.
Prior to each season I also update my “Availability Calendar” to note what days I cannot umpire a game. In addition to some dates I will be out of town, I have blocked out every Sabbath as ‘unavailable”.
Last year I was often contacted by Julie, the head umpire and scheduler, to see if there “was any way possible” I could cover a Saturday game. I would remind her again of my beliefs, and she would usually say something like “oh, I forgot, your Church won’t let you”. Once she even offered to write a letter to Ivan requesting an exemption. Even though Ivan granted it, I did not umpire the game (yes, I’m kidding).
Each time I would explain to Julie that it was not my “Church”, but my “heart” that blocked out that day as unavailable. I explained how attending the service, participating in Bible study, and recharging my spiritual batteries not only was a blessing, but in many ways made me a better umpire. “Besides Julie, I’ll be praying for you!” As someone struggling with diabetes and the headaches of scheduling hundreds of college, high school, and grammar school games, she is always grateful to hear that. I always offer to cover the game if it can be rescheduled to another day. Sometimes that is an option. Even if it isn’t, she always says “thanks, Big John, for all you do!”
There is currently a movement to make lacrosse an Olympic sport. If I can maintain my current rate of success, my Olympic dreams are still within reach. Maybe if you turn to ESPN 9 during the 2012 Olympics, and watch the lacrosse game between Fiji and the Galapagos Islands, you will see me and my skinny legs setting up the draw. Unless, of course, the game is on a Sabbath. Not even that would be a reason to reschedule time with the Lord.
-- John Nicholson, March 6, 2008 |
|
Download 