A bit wordy, but the best is at the end. So read it all.
This is something I wrote about on my personal page on Facebook a few weeks ago, but I know that this story really defines what L.A.CE.S. is all about so I wanted to share it with those who maybe are not friends with me on Facebook. Find me if you are not.
At the pool today I was reminded again how sports is an avenue for reaching youth. When I am not working, or planning for the wedding I try to go out and exercise a bit just for personal sanity. Today I needed a break from my very close friend, my computer, so around lunch time I decided to go and hit up the local recreation center and go swimming.
My Mission. Get in and out of pool and back with my computer in 1hr flat.
I got in the pool and began swimming laps for awhile and then out of no where I noticed another person swimming next to me in my lane. I wasn’t sure what to do at first so I keep swimming and noticed that no matter how slow or fast I was swimming this person was right next to me. We reached the end of the pool and he said “I beat you but only by one hand.” I was thinking to myself I did not even know I was racing anyone.
While it is normal to share a lane with someone at this pool, it was strange today because the person was an 11yr old kid (Patrick), and there were about 3 other lanes open.
I introduced myself and said “Ok I will swim on this side and you swim on that side.” Off I went again and He swam right next to me AGAIN until I got to the other end still no faster or slower then me, but right with me the whole time until the end and he would say I won. Confused once again, but starting to see what was happening I looked at the clock and realized that “My” time was almost up, but then I looked at Patrick. Looked at the clock and looked at Patrick again. Then looked at Patrick again and said on the count of ten I will race you to the other end. Over the course of the next 30min. Patrick and I raced up and down. Patrick would count 10sec between each race, however over time his counting started to go like this 1, 2, 3, 41/2 , 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 91/2, 9 3/4, pause pause 10. The final score was 15-14 in favor of Patrick, but let’s just say I let him win 15 times, good self esteem builder.
Patrick reminded me again why L.A.C.E.S. exists and why there is a need to invest in the life of a child. From what Patrick told me his parents send him to the recreation center 4 days a week on his own. While I don’t know their circumstances I know that today Patrick was in need of someone to invest in his life, and was looking for it so much that he jumped in the pool with someone he does not know and started racing them. As we got out of the pool (because let’s be honest I can’t swim for 5hrs.). He said “Will you come back tomorrow”, and I said I am not sure. His response was “Well I will be here all day until 4pm so I will be looking for you”
Reflecting back on today I realized I was doing L.A.C.E.S. work, just not the kind I thought I was going to be doing. Thank you God, for reminding me that you know our needs because today I was in need of a little inspiration (Patrick), and I think Patrick was in a little need of L.A.C.E.S.
Mission Accomplished.
Inspire us by posting your recent L.A.C.E.S. moment. Seren
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