| I've never really been a basketball fan, but since the | | | | see good and to find new opportunities -- even peace |
| Dallas Mavericks were in the championship series, my | | | | of mind, and yes, joy. Her faith-inspired point of view |
| Texas pride made me watch. With each agonizing | | | | led us to a new home in a new city, a career for her |
| game (specifically the last four), I remembered why I'm | | | | and a new life for both of us.My memory of those |
| not a basketball fan -- the game seems filled with | | | | childhood days is not of lack, uncertainty or fear. I |
| unfair foul calls. I know I sound like a sore loser -- and I | | | | never even thought of myself as homeless or poor.I |
| am. My Texas pride may be acting up again!Still, even | | | | suppose I could look at my childhood experience with |
| though I screamed out my frustrations over what I | | | | regret. But those days for me were a great gift -- a |
| considered unfair calls, I also yelled for the boys to | | | | lesson in how to beat the odds. How to overcome the |
| step up their game. I encouraged them to do a better | | | | insurmountable. How to begin anew when all is lost. |
| job at making their shots, rebounding and so forth. | | | | How to find something good in every moment.I learned |
| Even if some foul calls were bogus, I still believed they | | | | that a different outlook can change the course of our |
| had the ability to win the games.Now that the series is | | | | lives. We have to take responsibility for our thoughts |
| over, I'm reflecting on how the game of basketball is | | | | and actions every moment. Mary Baker Eddy wisely |
| sometimes like our lives. Or at least like my life.Many | | | | advised, "Your decisions will master you, whichever |
| times I've felt life was unfair -- like nothing was going | | | | direction they take." And she encouraged again and |
| my way. And in those times anger, disappointment and | | | | again to, "Stand porter at the door of thought."We can |
| depression victimized me: Poor me. "It wasn't my fault." | | | | do this because God gives us the ability and the |
| "I didn't have a choice." "There was nothing I could do | | | | strength to govern our lives in harmony and |
| about the cards I was dealt but to accept them and | | | | peace.After I married, my greatest battle with what I |
| suffer through it."Fortunately, my mama taught me a | | | | considered the unfairness of life began when our |
| lesson long ago that has helped me learn how to pull | | | | daughter was two years old. We were ready to |
| myself up from what feels like life's unfair dealings.The | | | | continue growing our family. But more children didn't |
| lesson, or storm of events, began one September | | | | arrive. Year after year, I struggled with disappointment |
| evening when I was ten years old. It wasn't a hurricane | | | | and depression, as well as anger and frustration. My |
| or a tornado. But it was equally devastating and for | | | | mantra was, "Why me, Lord?"I can't say that I |
| me, and just as sudden.I was taking my bath, getting | | | | overcame my struggle as quickly as I wish I had. But |
| ready for bed, when my mama unexpectedly came | | | | as I learned in my childhood, it would require a new |
| through the door. She promptly whisked me out of the | | | | outlook to move my life forward. As it turns out, a |
| tub to make a quick escape from her bitter and angry | | | | grateful heart was imperative. My love and desire for |
| ex-husband -- my dad. He hadn't been able to accept | | | | children didn't end. And children did come into my life -- |
| the divorce. My mama had been warned by a relative | | | | just in a different way than I had expected. I became a |
| that he was on his way to our place with violent | | | | kindergarten teacher. And not long after that, my |
| intentions.There was no time to pack, so we left with | | | | teenage niece came to live with us.I've concluded God |
| what little could be grabbed in a flash. I was never to | | | | does answer our prayers -- just not always in the |
| see my home or my dad again.For the months that | | | | way we outline. When I'm certain of God's |
| followed, we were homeless with little money.Many | | | | ever-presence, I'm able to respond to whatever |
| have asked my mama what enabled her to survive | | | | comes my way, calmly and confidently assured of |
| those times. I suppose some might call it a "can-do" | | | | God's directing.And God is always directing. I just can't |
| spirit. Perhaps a positive attitude. Maybe a cheerful | | | | hear Him very well while whining about life being unfair. |
| outlook. Or a "never-give-up" perspective. My mama | | | | But when I stop whining, I see the solutions and new |
| could never be brought down -- for long, anyway.I can | | | | opportunities that God is providing that enable me to |
| only explain that it had something to do with her faith -- | | | | overcome and succeed in spite of what might seem |
| her faith in a new concept of God that she was | | | | like the "unfair fouls" of life.Annette Bridges is a Religion |
| learning. A God that is good and omnipotent. A loving | | | | & Spirituality columnist for United Press International |
| God who will steer His children safely amid any storm. | | | | and lives on a north Texas ranch with her husband, |
| A God who has given His children the ability to prove | | | | John. For the past 25 years, she has been a student |
| evil powerless. A God who sent His son, Christ Jesus, | | | | of Christian Science, the method of healing explained in |
| to teach us how.Her faith-filled outlook gave us hope. | | | | Mary Baker Eddy's book, "Science and Health with |
| And her faith-filled perspective brought us the vision to | | | | Key to the Scriptures. |