lesson from Nicaragua

The mid-day heat draws me to the shade. Man, I'm not sure I can sweat much more. The water was just pouring off my face. I tried to wipe it off with my shirt, but it was already soaked. I chugged water from my "smart water" bottle, trying to replenish my thirsty body.

So, here I was, hanging out in El Limonal, a community in northwest Nicaragua. It was a humid and balmy day, the sun painting a golden burn on my arms and legs. Gaton, a friend of mine, Gaton, and I were playing football (soccer for Americans) with 5 kids from the community. We weren't playing on a crisp green grass field or on a nice gym floor. This game of "keep-away" was being played on a dirt road with trash lining both sides. Every kick and slide stirred up a gust of dirt, sometimes blinding your opponents.

It was absolutely, hilariously fun!

The five Nicaraguan kids were definitely cleaning our clocks and taking us to school with every kick. They knew angles and strategy. Clearly, it was not their first time playing together.

So, back to the dirt. The slick nature of the dirt caused problems for me. The shoes I had on didn't have much traction and well, I kept falling. To be precise, I fell five times that day. It was extremely humbling, but I provided laughter for all the spectators watching from the side of the road.

It was after the game, as I was massaging my sore muscles, that I began to think about the game of football. Did I come all the way to Nicaragua to play football? Was this game of football so important that I flew all the way from Phoenix to Nicaragua to kick a worn-out ball around? The answer is yes.

This is not because football is important or that they needed an extra player on their team. And it's not because football is a spiritual activity. The importance of this game can only be seen from a wider perspective. This pick-up game of football was symbolic of an critical concept in life know as "showing up".

The world is more interconnected than ever and the average American would say that they care about the world. However, how are we communicating this concern. We watch CNN and give money when there is a global crisis, but mostly because we'll get a tax break by doing so.

However, what does it really mean to care about something? Imagine a little boy on his 9th birthday. He is so excited to have his friends and family come together on this special day. But on this birthday, instead of coming to the party, his dad simply sends his son a check for $100. Now sure, this might be practical. Instead of buying some random sweater at a department store, the dad is giving the son the option of getting want he really wants. Sounds pretty good. I'm sure we all have some friends or family members that buy terrible gifts.

But the problem is that the father has missed the whole point. The birthday is not just about the gift, money or some hideous sweater. It is about being there for the actual birthday. It is about valuing his son by spending time with him in the midst of his busy schedule.

And this principle applies back to the football game in Nicaragua. We as Americans, Christians and just plain people can try to care for people from a distance . . . . but that doesn't work very well. Love and concern is best shown up close and personal.

So, no, playing football with a bunch of kids in the streets of Nicaragua isn't spiritual, revolutionary, inventive or honorable. But it meant the world to these kids and that's all that matters. Someone actually showed up to connect with them.

I implore you, show up for someone. It may not be kids in Nicaragua, but it could be simply someone in your neighborhood or church. But I guarantee, it will make all the difference in the world.

Josh
Phoenix, Arizona