A "Special" Sports Moment

Today I headed to Patton Park to do some research. I learned a lot more than I expected!

I am working on a new sports program for our church. It is going to be called "Just For Kicks" and will be a soccer program for youth with special needs. There is one program in Jacksonville that does soccer for this population and they are sponsored by the Down Syndrome Association of Jacksonville (dsaj.org). I went today to check out their program to see what I can learn for our summer program.

When I arrived at the fields it was very cold...well, by Jacksonville's standards. The temperature was in the upper 40's with a wind chill in the low 40's. As I pulled up several cars were there and people were starting gather. I sat in my car to watch...well, to stay warm...and just observe for a few moments. I don't know what I expected, by I was amazed by what I saw.

As cars pulled up, youth with down's syndrome and other disabilities were literally jumping out of their cars before it was stopped to get out to the field. One kid took off running (wobbling form side to side in a way that made you smile) and forgot to shut the car door. His dad had to put the car in park, turn it off and go around to shut the door so someone else could park there. The excitement may not have put them in safe situations, but it was contagious.

As I made my way onto the soccer field (very happy at this point that our program was going to be indoors!) I realized a lot of these kids had shorts and sweatshirts on and were laughing. They were ready to play and glad to see their friends. They got started with some warm ups....and then it happened.

Two boys (teenagers) were in the big circle doing their stretches and then looked over their shoulders to see a friend of theirs who was late running (that fun wobble run again) to the circle. The two boys left the circle and ran towards their friend. They all three met in a big hug and walked back to the circle with their arms around each other. I stood there for a moment and realized I had started to tear up.

It reminded me of the prodigal son going home and the dad running out to meet him. It reminded me of God running after me...accepting me for just who I am, my disabilities and all. It reminded me of how God wants me to run and accept others just the way they are and then engage in life with them, walking with arms around one another.

It was a moment I will cherish. God is teaching me so much through this new "Just For Kicks" program and it is months away from getting started.