When Mr. Broyles asked us to write about the most significant experience we’ve had on this trip, I struggled to think of one. I haven’t had a particular cannonball moment, but instead multiple little instances where I learned something new about myself. Ever since I arrived, I have been in a constant state of mental disarray, figuring things out just to have another experience distort my image of what the world truly is. Instead of writing about how I felt, I chose to put a four hour time period under a microscope, and examine every small lesson that I learned during the soccer game that we played in the rain. Some of the lessons are personal to my experience, so I skipped over a couple.
For context, the day went something like this. My battle with asthma has always been a part of my life, but has been heightened here in El Salvador. After running out of my inhaler, I was strongly encouraged by my teachers to sit out the soccer game. While this might have been the safe move, my family is fiercely competitive, and I couldn’t let this experience slip away. After the game, we walked through the rain and back to camp. Alone in my home, I had one of the worst asthma attacks of my life.
2. No matter where you are, or who you are with, there is always beauty hidden beneath all the brambles.
It took us fifteen minutes to hike downhill to the soccer field. Even though the pitch was the most beautiful field I had ever seen, it was hidden behind an overgrowth of trees, bushes, and runoff. Every place or person you meet has beauty, and all you have to do to find it is a little bit of searching.
2. Consistency beats ambition every single time.
The first five minutes of the game, I sprinted more than I had done in months. I tried to assert my dominance on the field, sprinting everywhere and chasing after every contested ball I could. Those back 85 minutes, however, was the most walking I have done in a while. Luke Burns, on the other hand, kept a consistent pace throughout the game. Never overconfident or cocky, Luke’s slow and steady pace allowed for bursts of energy when needed. His talent was proven throughout the entire game, not just the first five minutes.
3. Some opportunities never return. Capitalize with precision.
Luke and I took a perfect picture. Posing with the kids from the village, the shot was against a beautiful mountain range. In short, it would be one for the ages. When we checked to see the photo, there was nothing to see. I had calibrated the camera wrong. We weren’t too stressed about it, and both agreed to take another one afterward. This plan was viable until the rain started coming in in buckets. We never got that picture, and it will be one of the biggest missed opportunities of the trip. Stuff happens. Sometimes, if you don’t get it right the first time, you’re out of luck.
4. Real leaders do not unload their insecurities onto their soldiers. Inspiration comes from encouragement and action, not mockery.
There was not one point in which Luke Burns yelled at us. At one point, I completely whiffed a crucial cross in one of the last minutes of the game. Luke comes over, pats me on the back, and says, “Great try” with complete earnesty. Yelling doesn’t inspire confidence, it only reinforces diffidence.
5. Ask and you shall receive.
Before the game, I said, in prayer, the exact words “I need baptism to see this place clearer”. In the next two hours, it rained harder than I have ever seen. While this could be just a coincidence, I prefer to look at it as a manifestation of what I put out into the world.
6. The trip from the top, downward, is a lot faster than the trip from the bottom, upward.
I much preferred the 10 minute hike downward than the 30 minute hike up the hill.
7. The real loser isn’t the man that misses 20 shots, but the man who misses one shot and subs himself out.
I missed A LOT of shots, but I never took myself out willingly. Try, try, and try again.
8. Health is finite. Time is finite. Tell them you love them.
The asthma attack afterward put a lot into perspective. All alone, all I could think about was how much I missed my family. Tell them you love them.
9. “This Too Shall Pass”
I felt like a God playing soccer in the rain. An hour later, I felt like I was going to die. An hour later, I was beating Luke Burns in a dance battle. If you feel on top of the world, don’t get too overconfident. If you are feeling the weight of the world, don’t sweat it too much.
10. Wearing Wet Clothes Helps No One
As I was having my asthma attack, I sat in my hammock for 30 minutes before I realized that I was still wearing wet clothes from the game. Freezing cold and coughing like a madman, I stripped down and put on my Dad’s warm, worn down, oversized hoodie. I already had enough problems, and wearing stuff that was making me sick was pointless. Everyone has problems in life, many of which aren’t easily dealt with. With this being said, many of us carry wet clothes that do nothing but weigh us down. Recognize what your wet clothes are, have the strength to take them off your body, and put on the clothes of the people that love you.
11. It’s okay to be subbed out
You don’t have to play all 90 minutes. Take a break once and awhile.
12. No one wins without passing
Self explanatory
13. When you score, don’t celebrate in public.
No need to. You did your job. Make it look like you’ve done it before.