A Lesson from the Game

Last night, while Trey and I walked around in the cold rain, people watching and taking in all that surrounds an NBA All-Star game, we were bombarded by scalpers trying to sell us tickets. Even 5 minutes before tip-off, they were trying to get $450 for each ticket.  

My son’s little chin started quivering when I explained that daddy can’t pay $900 to watch a game. He wanted so badly to go in out of the rain and cold to watch in the stands with everyone else. 

With shivering hands, Trey would bend down and reach for drenched pieces of paper on the sidewalk – asking me each time if it was a ticket someone may have dropped that we could use.

Passing us, and entering the arena, were those leaving the Ritz-Carlton, clad in outfits that put $900 tickets on a child’s piggy bank level. “VIP” could be clearly seen hanging from a lanyard around their necks. 

I’m 37. I’ve been around these types of events for years. I have athlete friends and CEO friends. I understand that money and who you know can get you in – and I rejoice for those that have tickets or badges – they worked hard. But to a 7 year old, it was tough to comprehend. One day he will appreciate that I did not spend money we did not have.

We had a wonderful night together, nonetheless – dinner at Moe’s, a train ride, and hot chocolate. Just dad and son. Kent and Kent. In the middle of a busy career, we needed quality time.

Later, I snuggled him and talked about the fun we had and reminded him that because of Jesus, we are VIPs in God’s sight. That one day, because of Jesus’ grace and mercy, we will get to enter Heaven’s gates and see Jesus face to face. We don’t deserve it; we can’t earn it or afford it – but God loved us so much, that He sent Jesus to die for our sins, and when we repent of our sins and believe on Him alone for salvation, we become joint heirs with Him. We now have an incorruptible inheritance! All-Star players will grow old, trophies and legacies will fade, but Heaven is eternal.

Thank you, Jesus, for allowing an event to teach such an important reminder.

Have you accepted Jesus? Are your sins forgiven? There is room at the cross for you! Here’s the best part – No fancy suits, passes, or money needed. Jesus loves you, and He gave His life for you. Won’t you accept His gift of salvation today?

KPrainJrLeave a comment

My son lost it

We had told him he only had a few more minutes on the Nintendo Wii (we try to limit screen time), yet when those minutes were up, he lost it. He snapped at me and threw his controller down. He denied any wrongdoing. He didn’t own up to his bad attitude. I talked to him and explained that because of his choices, there would be absolutely no Wii time tomorrow. He stomped off to his room, huffing and shut the door.

Minutes later, he emerged. He walked over and asked me to help him put on his pajamas. He’s 7 years old. He knows how. But in his own way… he was showing his brokenness. He also goes to sleep with no problem. But tonight, he asked that I snuggle him. He just wanted to be with me and wanted to be close to me.

Y’all. We have made choices and decisions in our lives that have been in direct disobedience to God. We’ve talked back. We’ve huffed and puffed and questioned His Word. And we’re miserable. But you know what? God is waiting for us. He is waiting for us to humbly approach the throne of grace. To ask if we could have some help putting on our pajamas because we don’t know how to adequately express our brokenness, but all we know is we so desperately want to be near Him.

Maybe this is you. You’ve screwed your life up and are so far from God that you have no clue how to come back around. God’s waiting. He loves you. Tonight, before you go to sleep…. you don’t need to know the perfect words. Just tell Him you need help putting on your pajamas. That you’re sorry. And that you desire to be near Him and have a relationship with Him again.

KPrainJrLeave a comment

Lessons from the road: Part 1

I am on the road quite a bit. The commute from my home in Fort Mill, SC to my place of work in Huntersville, NC averages out to be an hour’s drive each way. And though it can be long and tedious, I try to observe and learn from all that happens around me. It’s incredible how parallel lessons from the road and lessons from life can be. They also intersect.

About a month ago, I exited off I-77 in Charlotte to grab some lunch. My vehicle was positioned in the left lane of two lanes heading straight. As we approached a red light, we gained a left-hand turning lane. When the left-hand turning lane was granted a green arrow, those vehicles began to move. The one vehicle ahead of me in the straight lane, sensing forward motion from those to its left, proceeded on as well. One problem: our light had remained red.

Instantly, I noticed a gentleman on the opposite side of the road. He was in the same lane as I was in, but heading the other direction. He saw what had happened, and he wanted everyone to know he had seen it. His head was sticking out of his window like a giraffe stretching for feed through a fence. He was GLARING. Eyes locked in on the driver who set off through the red light.

We’ve all been there. Maybe we were daydreaming, checking emails, or tuning the radio. Our eyes were off the traffic lights, but our peripheral vision caught the vehicle to our left moving, so we moved. Sometimes we catch ourselves and slam on the brakes, other times it’s too late to stop and we simply go on through. It’s dangerous, but rarely intentional.

And it was in that moment that my lesson was revealed to me. How often in life do we make a mistake? Could be intentional. Could be a lack of common sense. Could be completely innocent and unintentional. We have all been there. And also present are those near us, across the way, sticking out their necks, glaring at us down their nose. Condemning. Judging.

I know I’ve been there in traffic and in life. I’ve run a red light in the same fashion. Deep in thought or in worship, maybe checking a text or call, and away I went – even though it wasn’t my time to go. I’ve accidentally cut people off in parking lots and when they lay on their horns, I sheepishly wave and mouth that I am sorry. I’ve also made mistakes in life, and whether innocent or not, I have been at the brutal end of the scrutiny and the glares.

So what’s the lesson I learned? I learned both sides of the coin that day. I learned to not judge hastily. To not let emotions ride high and to not condemn with ease. To assume the best in someone when it’s a situation where innocence could be in play, and to seek to help and not hate. But that’s not all.

I looked at the guy across the intersection and considered him as well. Could he be a hot-head, policing everyone’s moves and motives? Sure. But could he also have lost a family member in an accident caused by someone running a red light? Absolutely. And in that moment I was reminded yet again to give grace. To give the benefit of the doubt. To be slow to judge, but quick to forgive.

Are there times when judgement is warranted, yes. Are there times when discipline is required, of course. But as a general rule, in our normal day to day, let’s not allow the mistakes of others to fuel condemnation and formulate negative opinions. We have all made mistakes, and we will all make mistakes. If everyone is glaring and no one is caring, how is anyone ever helped? How is anyone ever encouraged?

May we all strive to love and lift up others even more in 2019! Have compassion. Make a difference. Happy New Year!

How about you? Have you ever been on either side of the coin? I would love to hear about it. Please feel free to comment.

KPrainJrLeave a comment