Good morning everyone,
Yesterday, I met the son of my high school basketball coach. Allan McDougall coaches the senior boy’s basketball team for Jacob Hespeler Secondary School in Cambridge. I had met Allan about nine years ago when I coached the the junior boy’s team at EDSS. I was at a game yesterday where Ryan Bauman was playing the Jacob Hespeler team at EDSS.
I re-introduced myself to Allan, and told him who I was. He said to me that his dad is now 75 and still lives in the same house in Niagara-on-the-Lake. I told him that I remember when Allan used to sit on our bench, next to his dad, when he was 8 eight years old. Allen went on to win a Canadian championship while playing at Brock University. He was a very good player.
Allen told me what a great childhood he had had, and included the memory of sitting with our high school team on the same bench. He became a much better player than any of us ever were. He also told me that it was a great honour to play for his dad. His dad was a good coach, and history teacher, and a mentor to me.
It was so nice to hear Allen say that he was so appreciative of the great life and community that he was a part of growing up. Such a positive guy.
I invite us to think of the many positive things of our community and church that we call home. Do not dwell on the negative, but focus on the strengths of each other and the presence of God. Do not put others down… build up everybody as it applies to you.
Thanks Allan.
Shalom and strength for the journey of life and faith.
Fred