Just Do Better

Sometimes, we mess up a little in life. Sometimes, we mess up a lot. Last night was an "in the middle" moment for me.

I've been a member of our school's chain gang at home football games for five years now and have risen through the ranks, by default, to being the guy that holds the down marker at the line of scrimmage. It is the best seat in the house.

The chain gang always works the visiting team's sideline and given the fact that you are squarely in the middle of enemy territory, there are a few unwritten rules that go with this professional volunteer position, specifically....

You don't openly cheer for your own team. You don't talk to the players. You don't talk to the coaches.

Basically, you keep your mouth shut, mind your business, do your job, and stay in your lane. Yes, we have a designated lane that runs the length of the field and belongs to us.

I have done an admirably good job of adhering to all of these rules over the years.... until last night.

Not long before halftime, and with tensions already high, a sweeping play that should have ended well in bounds continued well out of bounds, through the chain crew and into the pile of opposing coaches I happened to be standing near. Flags flew in from everywhere.

The opposing coaches, team, and fans vehemently disagreed with the unnecessary roughness call and me, being well primed from taking a shot to the head as the players blew through us, with my son being the recipient of the unnecessary roughness penalty, administered by an opponent literally twice his size, waded right into the conversation, and broke every chain gang rule except talking to a player, at the same time, with force, and some colorful language thrown in for full effect.

Even after the flags were put away and play resumed the back and forth continued in spurts, minus the colorful language, until halftime.

It was a heck of a football game and in the end, my team came up short, but honestly not as short as I thought they would have against a bigger and deeper team that is always a very tough opponent. That part is just football.

Lying in bed last night and replaying the events of the evening, I didn't regret getting vocal and I didn't regret the words that I said, I stand by them right now but, I absolutely regret some of the unfiltered language I used in the heat of the moment. It wasn't a good look at all for me, my school, or the Faith I try to live out each day. That part I was sorry, and a bit embarrassed about.

I'm not making excuses, but my old self, as ugly as it can be, still comes out if you poke it hard enough. Thankfully, it just takes a heck of lot more poking than it once did to call it up.

Sitting here alone having coffee this morning that regret was still lingering when the words "Just Do Better”, came across as clear as a bell.

Truth is, we can't un-spill milk, un-ring a bell, or un-speak words that come out of our mouth. We are just stuck with those actions. So, learn from them and move on.

God understands we are human and will be until our last breath. Maybe He let me get run over last night to embarrass myself a little bit and to see what still lingers inside of me, even though there is far less of it in my life than there was years ago. At least I didn't need stitches!

Get In The Boat. Do Your Part.

Just Do Better.... From Nose To Toes!

Shane / #16