Too Many To Number

Too many blessings to count from my day at Illinois College, watching the Blueboys score a lopsided win over North Park. A few quick highlights before sleepy time:

• Some thoughtful moments of discussion with Coach Joe Scheuers at pre-game shooting workouts. Good young coach, and a man after God's heart.
• Watching IC play with a degree of flow and spacing that contributed to bombing in 17 3-pointers. Lots of quality play from several guys to put the game on ice early. Special props to Nathan Kohler, who scored 22 first-half points while doing his impression of a basketball Roman candle.
• The kindness that John Fisher showed my son Matthew during the pre-game shootaround. I don't know John all that well, but I am thankful for him casting a light on Matt's day that he'll remember.
• Spending some very enjoyable time with Coach Worrell and Coach Braucht and their families at dinner following the game. Blessed to see two of my close, long-standing friends in the coaching business enjoy the fruits of their labor by having a win to celebrate heading into the New Year.

Most of all, sharing the joy of the day with my son was truly awesome. Matt loves basketball, and he has looked up to so many of the guys who have played at IC, both now and in the past. I owe a debt of gratitude to many of those guys for treating basketball with such respect and playing it the right way, which in turn, has helped my son to go about it the right way as well. Being at the game together today reminded me that we have basketball as a shared gift, a vehicle to grow closer as father and son.

An old-fashioned case of counting blessings--a great finish to a great day.