Get up or Give up

Michael Jordan played basketball for Laney High School in Wilmington, North Carolina. Ironically, Jordan was cut from the varsity team as a sophomore. I bet the players of the varsity team might have judged Jordan just a bit. Thoughts of “why” probably interred into Michael's mind. He had to make a decision, to give up and let the event get the best of him or to get up and move on. Jordan once said, "Whenever I was working out and got tired and figured I ought to stop, I'd close my eyes and see that list in the locker room without my name on it, and that usually got me going again."

I often wonder if he had some kind of an idea that he was going to be such a fantastic player. Six-time NBA champion, 10-time All-NBA first team,  nine-time All-Defensive first team, 14-time All-Star; All-Star MVP, one of 50 Greatest Players in NBA History, and last but not least...an Olympic gold medalist.

We cannot let ourselves become discouraged if we fail a time or two. The best athletes in the world all seem to have some common traits:

1) They practice long and hard. Tiger Woods, an American all star golfer, come to Arizona to play in a tournament. After a full day of golfing he would head on over to the practice green and there he would begin a practice session. It's no wonder he's ranked #1 in the world.

2) They never give up. Would Michael Jordan have become a 14-time All-Star by quitting when he was in high school...obviously not!  

Each and every person has a chance to become "great". We all have our own talents and they are to be used! Our potential is to become like our Father in Heaven. A big task.  Perfection is our goal. To follow Jesus Christ takes lots of practice. Sometimes we fail to progress. Like Michael, we fail to make the team, but through perseverance we can regain our spot. When we fall down we must get up and keep trying. If we continue on this course we will become "great".

It is my witness that we can become amazing. When we read our scriptures, go to church, and live as Christ teaches us, we are as the greatest people in the world.    

Basketball

Recently I was able to attend a 3on3 basketball tournament. It was extremely fun to watch and the crowds made me feel like I was in a big city. It was fun to watch the skill of the different players. Even though the first day of the event was cold and raining the players gave it their all.

It was funny to watch the skilled players bounce the ball and come up on a puddle, in which the ball would instantly stop, then they would have to quickly turn around and try to catch the ball before the other players got it.

 There were some spectacular players there and some that have only played the game a couple of times. Basketball for me is something I really enjoy. The goal is to get the ball in the basket. So simple, yet as we add people to oppose you, and distances that will be worth more points (ie. the 3 point line). Life is kind of like this. We have one goal, to return back to our Father in Heaven. This is made difficult by people there to oppose us (such as Satan). Every once in a while we get close to our goal and we just seem to lose our focus and have to turn back to try again, like when the basketball hit the water. And every once in a great while we seem to be so far from our goal, and we hit the big 3 pointer, by bringing our life back on track. This is a game that we can win! We know the actions we must take to win. It won't be easy, but its very attainable.

                                               Remember that practice makes perfect.