Yesterday, this happened.
Yup, that's right: the Anteaters won the championship. As their excitement level shot through the roof, one might have thought more than three teams competed in the league. Or that the team they beat in order to win, might not have been the same team they defeated three times prior.
My point is this: when I really listen to these boys, I discover that they desperately long for a piece of something worthwhile. To be on the team. To belong. Because even the roughest boys, the ones who are nothing but "bad-news," whose instagram feeds mainly feature guns and drugs. Even those boys showed up faithfully for every single practice. They shake hands after the game, wolf down cookies, and take turns praying it out. Even though we shouldn't play popcorn with Jesus.
So congratulations to our Anteaters. And thank-you all for being a part, for contributing to belonging. And listening to what our boys really need. What we all need.
Yup, that's right: the Anteaters won the championship. As their excitement level shot through the roof, one might have thought more than three teams competed in the league. Or that the team they beat in order to win, might not have been the same team they defeated three times prior.
One of the boys wears a neon trucker hat emblazoned with curse words. He bought it only, he insists, because it came in Anteater Pink.
Back in the neighborhood, they gather together to put their hands in and yell ANTEATERS one more time. In the middle of the street, they laugh and dance and smack each other on the chest. Because the power of belonging, it staggers.