Basketball and the Bible

I grew up Southern Baptist. I’m still Southern Baptist. I have at one time or another actually referred to myself as the poster child for the Sothern Baptist Convention. There are many things I embrace and love so dearly about the denomination I was raised in. The sweet hymns being one of the most important.

But this blog isn’t about that though. Although, while we’re talking about it, “Heavenly Sunlight” is my favorite.

This blog is about Bible Drill. Bible Drill was for 4-6 graders and it was a way for children to increase in their knowledge of the Bible and in learning how to apply the Bible to our lives. It helped us be able to locate the books of the Bible, verses, and recite key verses. I loved it!

I, to this day, am sure I was the best Bible Driller EVER! I could (and can) recite the books of the Bible in less than 30 seconds. I was AMAZING!!! I practiced so diligently. We had competitions at the end of each year and I would get so nervous about it. I wanted to be perfect and get that big round embossed sticker that we got to stick inside the cover of the hard-backed navy blue Bible that was so important! This is one of the only times I can remember being really competitive. I wasn’t into sports as a kid or .... ever.

Well, except for that one year that I played basketball for church. I scored one basket and I remember looking at my mom like “WAHOOO!!!” only to realize that she wasn’t watching when I scored. The look on her face was priceless. Yep, I was a really sweet basketball player ... that is when I wasn’t sitting on the bench overcoming hyperventilation from being so out of shape.

Unfortunately, I realized the other day at church that I STILL try to be the first person around me to find the verse that the pastor is preaching on. It’s like I hear “1, 2, 3 ... GO!” in my head when the pastor says to turn to a passage and I cut my eyes all around me to see if I have indeed gotten there first. It’s the one competitive bone in my body.

If I’m playing you in basketball and you win I’ll tell you good job. If you find a Bible verse before me I’ll be mad for weeks.

And since I don’t really know how to end this post ... here is cute picture of me as a very non-competitive child with split bangs and little baby teeth.