my_LAX_history

I love how God is behind the scenes, orchestrating the details of our lives, and many times we don’t even have a clue that He’s up to something. Psalm 37:23 says, “The Lord directs the steps of the Godly. He delights in every detail of their lives.” There’s so many examples I could give about this, but here’s the latest, greatest in my world.
In the fall of 2007 I was asked to help coach lacrosse. I knew nothing about the sport, but the coach liked how I worked with teenagers and how teenagers responded to me. I was honored by the request,
especially since I barely knew the coach. I thought it over but figured a whole new sport would be too
much to take on. I was already coaching volleyball, basketball and travel basketball, plus umping softball in the spring. Let’s not forget the fact that I knew nothing about lacrosse. I said NO.
Fast forward thru basketball season, and its now mid-February, 2008. My thoughts were completely on
basketball sectionals and brushing up on my umping skills. I had actually forgotten about lacrosse. Yet
one fateful Monday morning I was getting ready for work, and I heard the Lord speak to me, “Coach
lacrosse.” It wasn’t an audible voice but came thru in my thoughts. It was so out of the blue; I knew
immediately that it was God. Yet I discounted the thought because of how random it was, not to mention the fact that lacrosse wasn’t even an option! I had told the coach NO back in October. In all honesty, I had completely forgotten about lacrosse. Nevertheless, God had spoken.
The following Thursday, just 3 days later, the Varsity lacrosse coach called me up again, asking me to
help her coach lacrosse. Normally I would have no idea what to do. Should I? Should I not? Am I too
busy? Is this a good fit? I’d be all over the place wondering what to do. But God had already spoken; I
had already been told what to do. This time I told the coach YES.
And that was my beginning in lacrosse.
My first season was spent as the Varsity assistant coach. I focused primarily on conditioning and goalie training. I worked hard to learn as much as I could about the game of lacrosse. During that time, I fell in love with the sport and also became good friends with the Varsity coach. By my 2nd year, I came in with experience and confidence, having a good handle on my areas of responsibility. However, that quickly changed when the JV coach got injured playing indoor soccer during our preseason and couldn’t fulfill her coaching duties. I filled in for her, thinking I was just a temporary fix, but lo and behold, I not only stayed in that position for the remainder of the season but officially took on the JV head coach job for the program. I still remember feeling overwhelmed and even paralyzed with doubt when I realized I was taking the team on. I sat at my kitchen table in silence for a solid hour that 1st night, staring at the wall, as my mind wreaked havoc on my confidence. Then I took control of my thoughts, gave myself a personal pep talk, and dove into the JV head coach position with a vengeance. By the way, not to brag or sound prideful, but each year we have improved in skills and record!
I am currently in my 9th year of coaching for the district. Right before I started coaching back in 2003,
God spoke to me from Ephesians 3:20-21, “Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory.” I’ve carried this verse and promise with me through every sport and season, as well as the reminder from Pastor Dad that I’m there to serve and do whatever is asked of me. I simply want to make a difference in the community and in our schools. As I have served and made myself available through the years, countless doors of opportunity and favor have opened before me. I guess I’m not really surprised that another door has opened because I’ve come to expect that from God by now. So here we go; my 5th year of lacrosse is about to begin in less than a month. This time though I head into the season as the Varsity head coach of the Greece Lightning Girls Lacrosse Program.
I must admit I’m a jumbled mix of emotions at the moment. I’m sad to see our former Varsity coach go. She’s a close friend who has taught me so much about the game of lacrosse, not to mention coaching in general. I’m definitely a bit overwhelmed by the thought of overseeing an entire program. However, I’m super excited to be stepping into a Varsity coaching position and thrilled to take on the new challenge. I’m also simply in awe of God and how He always seems to have something new for me to experience in the world of coaching.
I’m amazed that I find myself taking on such a role when I never played the sport, nor knew nothing about it less than 5 years ago. I guess it shouldn’t surprise me though because it just confirms what the Bible says concerning serving. We don’t have to promote or push for our own personal advancement. In fact, it comes when we do just the opposite, choosing to serve in humility instead.
Lacrosse never crossed my mind 9 years ago, nor was the Varsity head coach position ever even a
dream of mine 5 years ago. But it certainly had crossed God’s mind. He knew where I was heading all
along; He set me up; He prepared me; He orchestrated the details; He led me to the place that now
brings me to the position I am in today. I can only wonder what He will do next!
“The Lord directs the steps of the Godly. He delights in every detail of their lives.” Every detail! That
means sports, relationships, jobs, education, family, leisure...He leaves nothing out! Are you letting Him direct your steps? Will you trust Him with EVERY detail of your life? He sure does a better job than we could ever do!