The Sanctuary

Whenever I'm on the court, I leave all my worries out of bounds.

The basketball court has been my sanctuary since I taught myself how to play. My own Fortress of Solitude. On the court, under the summer sun, wind in my face as I race down to finish coast-to-coast layups at 5:30 in the morning, sweat dripping down my arms after shooting my heart out at 1 in the afternoon. Heck, if the village turned the lights on I'd keep shooting under the stars.

I don't claim to be invincible around these parts, but I hold my own. I've won and lost my fair share on the court. I can't remember how many times I've played 1on1, 2on2, 3on3, 5on5 pickup ball, but I can remember the faces of the guys I've played, beaten, lost to. Some of em have become friends. Dear friends, in fact, that even if we don't know each other's numbers or connected on Facebook and Twitter, we talk as if we've known each other forever. Then we go hard at each other in character building games, laughable games, rain or shine we be ballin', son. If I win, I get to gloat all the way home and tell everyone - my little brother, my mom, my dog - how I nailed the game clinching hoop.

The game has always given me sanctuary. For a few precious minutes or hours, I forget all of my problems, worries, and heartaches. I am granted an opportunity to sort things out as I set my sights on that orange hoop with the rock in my hand. I get to block out distractions, filter my thoughts and focus on my goals as I launch jumpers again and again. I get to talk to God in my own little way, and He gets me to listen in the only place other than the church where I feel most at peace.

If I were to physically meet God anywhere other than the church, I would like to meet him on the court. We can shoot around, play one-on-one (hopefully he'd let me win a game but I doubt it - ever since I was a kid God wanted me to appreciate my blessings through hard work which is cool), because I believe He was right there with me, during those early morning shootarounds, teaching me how to survive life through the game of basketball.

I learned that I should never force the issue and let the game come to me, take what the defense gives me. I learned how to play hard and smart. I learned when to defer and when to take over. I learned how to earn victory and accept defeat. I learned, that when life gives you a shove, you shove back. You never back down.

Whenever I'm on the court, I feel at peace. Whenever I play, that's when I feel the most alive.