QUESTIONS

I need some answers to several questions. Help me if you can.

1. Should the night time cold medicine make me tired? 

2. Why is there just double bubble gum in stores and not super bubble gum? Where did it go? 

3. Is it normal to decide at the last minute you are not positive you are cut out for a mission trip to Canada? 

4. George Brett...did he know he used too much pine tar, and after 25 years does he still want to beat up those umpires? 

5. Why is it you go to Walmart at 930 pm and only 5 lanes TOTAL are open? Not to mention the lady behind me stormed out because the lane was closed after she checked us out. Could the lady not check out one more person? 

6. Is my life really that unproductive? 

7. Who will win the world series? 

8. Should Farve come back? 

9. Will Tiger be back this year? 

10. Is it raining because of Dolly?

SPORTS

Sports. 

Why do I like sports so much? What makes sports an important part of my life? How can you hate them and love them at the same time? 

I played golf last weekend. I arrived and was ready to play and have fun but mainly to win. I left, lost by 3 strokes, wanted to break my clubs, and never hit a golf ball again, oh and kill Tiger Woods. Two hours later, I was practicing my putting in my room. Why? Something about sports just makes me want to come back for more. I shoot baskets on the driveway and pretend I am shooting the game winning shot in an important game, somehow I always end up winning the game in the end just to make myself happy. But why do I even get mad when I miss one shot? No one even knew I missed it. There really aren't thousands of people watching. I watched Josh Hamilton hit 28 homeruns in the first round of the homerun derby and listened to him say that four years ago he wasted millions of dollars getting high and screwing up his life, the last thing he said is "this is unlike any high I have ever experienced." And that, is why he loves baseball. It is an amazing high. Everyone loves it for a different reason. Erin told me today, and quote "I realized why I like sports. Sports can't personally let you down. I mean, you can be sad and disappointed that your team doesn't win, but their losing has nothing to do with you. It's not them getting back at you for not waiting for them to go to lunch. It's not them being jealous of the time you spend at the gym. Like, I'm pissed at the sports guy for taking a 10 week break, and it's a way for me to realease any built up anger that I have on him.  But I know that he's not doing it to ME. And when he puts up a new podcast I completely forgive him." And so Erin is right. Sports are something no one can really explain. But they don't let you down, and no matter what, in sports...there is always a chance. And that slim chance, that it is possible, is what brings you back for more. And in the words of Josh Hamilton, it is an amazing high. 

CANADA

Saturday morning I leave for a mission trip in Penticton, Canada. I will be coaching basketball every morning while the other group leads vacation bible school on the beach. Mountains, lakes, basketball, golf, bike adventures, fishing and hanging out with kids...if this isn't a perfect mission trip for me, I don't know what is. This is my first mission trip to experience. I think this trip has been planned for a lot longer than I know, I am excited to see what is in store for me in Canada. 

But friendship is precious, not only in the shade, but in the sunshine of life; and thanks to a benevolent arrangement of things, the greater part of life is sunshine.

-Thomas Jefferson

I would like to think this is the perfect summer picture.