Soccer

For a brief period of time yesterday I forgot what was happening in the world.

I forgot business plans, budgets, sales plans and proxy fights.

I forgot the rising cost of energy, problems in the Middle East, the AIDS pandemic in Africa, budget deficits and divided government.

I forgot any personal issues that seemed so important just briefly before.

The only colors were the bright blue of an African winter sky, the green of an Acacia tree, the brown of a dirt playground and the black and white pattern of a soccer ball.

I played soccer with four young boys with no mothers or fathers. We simply kicked the ball around. We took turns. We all made sure the smaller boys were included in the group. We all smiled as we played.

It isn't possible to really describe the feeling. It might have been thirty minutes. It may have been an hour.

Of course, after we finished it all came rushing back. The problems of the world don't go away. But it was a good day spent with great kids with a tremendous sense of grace.

These are wonderful people in an amazing country. As time goes on I can probably explain it better or how we can help but, for now, it was a fine game of soccer. I'll leave it at that.