If there is one thing about inner city boys that I have learned, it is that they love basketball. Of all of the twenty or so guys I know that live in Binghampton, every single one of them loves to play basketball. Whether its knockout, 21, one on one, three on three… they love it!
For most of the year, the only goal that I knew of was outside of Dr. Rick’s house. From what I could tell, it created much traffic and stress. Constant games and competitions, boys yelling, fighting, fouling…. Needless to say, I’m sure it can be quite stressful for Laurie and Rick. A constant flow of sweaty and smelly boys asking for the car to be backed down the driveway, a basketball, and some water to go with it. Could there be a better way to attract the kids we had hoped to share the gospel with?
During the fall and spring, Brian began coaching a team for some of the boys. It has been such an amazing journey watching them develop. The Binghampton Bulls have been such a testimony of how when time is spent investing in kids, things can change.
While working in the shop during SOS spring break camps, Eric and I stumbled upon an old basketball goal. Not expecting the answer I received, I half-heartedly joked about bringing the goal home to Hollins—his response has made a major difference in our experiences with the neighborhood boys. That afternoon, Eric and I loaded it up and brought it home. After a quick duct-tape and Liquid Nails job, the goal proudly stood on our curb—creating the
Within a matter of hours, kids were outside playing. It has been, without a doubt, the greatest ‘neighborhood boys’ magnet I’ve experienced. Since that goal has been in front of our house, I have met and began relationships with numerous kids from our neighborhood. Every week I seem to find someone new outside playing—young and old alike. It really has been great.
The area where there seems to be the greatest impact is with what I refer to as the ‘regulars’—a group of around six guys who seem to be on our street curb as often as the sun rises. Having those boys at or near our house everyday has created a great opportunity to get to know them. We have since taken them to a Grizzlies game, dinner, Putt—Putt, as well as making them dinner, snacks, water, etc. In many ways, I feel like they are becoming part of my family. What do I find when I come home from a long day of work??—the guys, sitting on my porch, waiting to get a ball and a cup of water. But, on some levels, I pray it goes deeper. I hope they see the way that I treat the girls next door. How we are not at home during the day because we’re out at work—everyday until five. Or perhaps they notice that we sometimes have to tell them they can’t play right now—or that it’s okay to lose games. I hope they see how I react when I get fouled hard or miss seven out of eight shots.
To cut to the heart of the matter, it’s about much more than basketball. It’s about using something like basketball—something the guys are genuinely interested in—to honestly live out the message of the gospel. Many days it can be discouraging; moreover, it’s frustrating to see how easy it is to just give up and walk away. When life comes at you hard, how the obvious choice is to quit! On many days, I fail miserably. I come home in a bad mood, and the last thing I want is a fourteen year old with an attitude talking trash to me on a basketball court. But those are the times when I am reminded all the more of the importance of literally falling to my knees to pray that God would not only restore my heart, but that of the guys as well. That I would be granted patience, integrity, and hope—all in true faith that Christ can overcome any obstacle whatsoever. Would I, could I, just be simply convicted daily that life is about more than petty games and breakdowns, but that life is about the glorification of the great Risen Savior—and that without his redemption, I will always fall completely short of his glory.
May, 2006
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