Tonight’s post is a two fold post. Yesterday I had my heart strings tugged not only once but twice…and in a matter of hours! You guys are in for a treat!
This week is NAIA DII Women’s National Basketball tournament week! Thinking back over the last few years during this time I have nothing but excitement for the girls who are in Sioux City. There were some of my greatest memories made at the tournament and it’s so fun to be back there and be able to encourage more to continue making memories.
The week of tournament action always starts off with a praise service. For the last few years the musically talented (not me) girls from NWC have taken the lead in organizing the service and leading the worship time. Last night was the service and it was an amazing way to kick off a great week.
Now to the part that tugged my heart strings… I’ve always been a strong believer in Music being able to evoke emotion and bring about feeling. There is something about a familiar song that can make a person feel comfortable. Just like most of you, I have some favorites, and it just so happens that last night several of those were played and sung by some amazing women I get to be impacted by.
I’ve decided to share a few lines of lyrics, just to give a little insight and maybe serve as a reminder to those who might know these songs.
…’So I’ll stand with arms high and heart abandoned, in awe of the One who gave it all. I’ll stand my soul, Lord, to you surrendered. All I have is Yours’… The Stand
…’What heights of love, what depths of peace. When fears are stilled, when striving cease. My comforter, my All in All. Here in the love of Christ I stand’… In Christ Alone
…’This is my prayer in the desert, and all that’s within me feels dry. This is my prayer in my hunger and need. My God is a God who provides. And I will bring praise. I will bring praise. No weapon formed against me will remain. I will rejoice, I will declare, He is my victory and He is here’… Desert Song
Good Stuff.
Oh-Kay. Now to part 2!
Last night was a big night for a man that has been very influential in my life.
Earl Woudstra was inducted into the NAIA Coaching Hall of Fame last night and I got to be in attendance to witness this great honor.
For those of you who don’t know Coach Woudstra, was the head coach at NWC for all four years while I was there. He racked up some pretty impressive coaching stats, but even more than that he is a man who I’m not sure I can describe by simply writing about him. If you watch his induction you get just the tip of the iceberg as to how amazing this man really is. He is one of the most devoted, humble, caring, passionate, loving men I know. While I was a player for him he took on the role of a father figure in my life and even now continues in this. Along with continually showing me that he genuinely cares for me, he has taught me numerous lessons for life though the sport of basketball. He is simply a great man.
This induction. . . along with some conversation about Coach Woudstra that I had with some other very impacted former players…got me thinking about the impact that a single person can have.
I think about Coach and how many, many people he has influenced. I could count the number, but it would be a very, very high number. For every player he had, Coach influenced far beyond just the player. It reached their families. It reached communities. He impacted the students his former players teach and he impacted the co-workers his former players have now. Who knows how far this really reaches.
How amazing is it to think about the impact you can have. To some, you may think that you are insignificant, you may think that you have very little to contribute. But, if you are even the slightest bit impactful to one person, think of the web of impact that starts and how meaningful it could be to someone you may have never met.
It’s overwhelming to think about but even more, it’s humbling to know that there is a God who orchestrates it all and He wants nothing more than for our lives to impact others in a way that shows more of Him.
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