You Can't Move the Sun in a Game
It’s one-jillion degrees in Cape Town today, and humidity is on the rise. (Hallelujah! Rain is on the way!!!) As I write this, I’m still in my gym clothes and sitting crossed-legged in a camp chair at Lifa’s rugby practice. I’ve kicked off my shoes in effort to cool down and am set up to spend the next hour writing you story from Arise’s family center. But a one-liner from the rugby field just threw me off course.
Coach Wonga privately instructs Lifa and Olie twice a week. The boys’ friendship, love for the game, skill and athleticism are increasing rapidly because of Wonga’s commitment and steadfastness. He doesn’t even go easy on them in the heat! Today’s practice started off with the summer sun blasting the boys right in the face. They couldn’t see or come close to catching the ball. Coach Wonga’s response: “You can’t move the sun in a game. What are you going to do!?!”
He shouted it over and over again, relentlessly tossing rugby balls at the blinded boys. ”You can’t move the sun in a game! Lifa and Olie know that everything their coach says is for their good. He uses every circumstance to get them ready for game day and whatever may come with it. They know they are going to be sore the next day and come out stronger because of it. (Fact: Last night I could not get through a conversation with Lifa without him getting completely distracted by his own muscles. Hello self-aware years.)
There were some moments of misery while sun-blinded boys repeatedly dove face-first into grass, unable to grasp that elusive rugby ball. Sweat was flying, and the field was ringing with the sound of Coach Wonga’s voice, ”You can’t move the sun in a game! What are you going to do!?!” They kept going because they knew their coach wasn’t there for the purpose of making them suffer, nor would he unwaveringly throw the impossible at them. Calling it quits didn’t even cross their minds. The sun might have been in their eyes, but they had their eyes on the prize!
Lifa and Olie knew their coach would eventually stop and come closer to give them a skill they hadn’t even known they needed before that day. And they would remember it on that day when they couldn’t move the sun in the game. The next thing I knew, Coach Wonga was right between them, showing them how to run with one arm up blocking the sun and the other out in position for the game. And just like that, they could conquer the sun. They couldn’t move it, but they could overcome it.
What a life lesson. We’ve all got a sun in the game, don’t we? We are waiting on a million legal miracles for my, Lifa’s and Baby Benjamin’s safety and security. We’ve faced blinding resistance to community-building and church in the city we’ve been called to. And so on and so on… If you’ve been around for a while or read the Friday Five, you know the sun spots. Even if you haven’t, you most certainly know your own.
But do you know the “Coach”? Do you know the One who created you, as well as every season under the sun?
There have been days (years), where I’ve face-dove into those blinding hot spots. I couldn’t keep up. What if we never get to travel? What if we never get Lifa’s birth certificate? What if they never come to church? What if… What if… What if… I couldn’t hear the voice of the One always working things out for my good, always equipping me because He could see my strength and wanted to bring it out.
But today, I watched my 11-year old and his rugby hero, and I decided to take notes. When I’m weary, blinded and just keep missing, I will listen for His voice. I know there’s a faithful Father preparing me for greatness. He’s not the one throwing hardships at me, but He’s using them to make me strong. Any minute now, He’s going to come stand beside me and show me how to conquer the sun.
Thank you so much for reading! We love having you as part of Ladd.Family and in our lives. Please click here to subscribe so you won’t miss a story. And share!