NO WAY
Few are capable of pushing human limits at the level Kobe Bryant was able to do on the basketball court. Many times after I saw him hit a shot or saw his highlights on SC, I would catch myself whispering the words “No Way”.
I will always remember what I was doing at the moment I heard that Kobe had taken flight for the last time on earth. I was doing a puzzle. Let me explain!
It was the first puzzle I have done in over 20 years. This puzzle represented a cherished memory in my life. It came during one of the deepest valleys of our lives. We had just endured losing our second child to miscarriage and were simply numb as the pain seemed beyond us.
I took my love to Joplin just to get out of town. After getting a hotel, and I am not even sure why, but we got a puzzle. That night we put together a puzzle that seemed just as broken as us. Even in our brokenness, God has always been there to carry us through that dark and difficult time of our lives.
There have been so many miracles since that night in Joplin, including our four miracle babies. Turning 50 and enjoying watching our first child leave the nest, I realize more and more that the most valuable thing we have on earth is time and our loved ones. Through Kobe’s tragedy this truth has never been clearer to me.
Last weekend, I had my first Saturday off of 2020. It was also my last free Saturday until March Madness ends. I chose to cherish once again that night from over 20 years ago. Getting out of town with the love of my life, getting a hotel, and surprising her with a puzzle. This time I asked her to tell me of a dream place she would love to go. She said a house in the country of a place like England with trees, a stream and a porch. I found just the puzzle that represented that dream cottage in the woods. It was a 1000 piece puzzle, so we only were able to get the frame of the puzzle finished that night, so there we sat Sunday working on finishing that dream puzzle, when I heard the news of Kobe and the tragic death of his 8 loved ones.
It was a moment full of irony, as so many dreams seemed to die at that moment, yet I was sitting there putting together a puzzle of a dream. My lips spoke the same whisper I had spoken so many times when watching a game or highlight of Kobe, “No Way”! My son G called seconds later in shock, saying the same words, “No Way”!
The time we are given on earth is a gift, don’t waste it on selfish pleasures. Share memories that truly matter with the ones you love the most, serve your maker by loving the less fortunate, and always be ready to go home. Reaching Heaven together with our loved ones is the only prize that truly matters!
I read a quote about Kobe today from former teammates Lou Williams to Nick Young, “We got blew out in Portland. He took everybody’s Kobe’s and said they couldn’t wear it cause we was soft!”
I admire Kobe for his hard work and dedication to the game I love, like the fact that he preached toughness to a soft generation, but I love that Kobe and Gianna got up early to go to church the morning before they took their last flight on earth. I smile believing their hearts were right with the King of Kings. I believe I will meet Kobe and his lovely daughter in Heaven some day.
Cowboys often say that they want to buried with their boots on. Yet, I doubt Kobe had his Kobe’s on Sunday. I believe he went out completing his highest calling and his greatest accomplishment on this earth. He went out and on to the streets of Gold with his dad slippers on! Much Respect!