Callie, Into the Breech
Callie,
You’ve been telling me for three weeks that you don’t like soccer. You’re disappointed that the bigger kids run faster than you and that you haven’t ever scored a goal. You’ve been so frustrated that you’ve even cried on the field and screamed that you don’t like soccer and that you don’t want to play.
But twice now, in two separate games, you’ve come off the bench and run onto the field in order to defend your team’s goal. You weren’t called in, mind you. You ran on the field of your own initiative in order to assist your team in a game that you swear you hate.
I don’t know if you get so excited when intense action flares up that you just forget your frustrations and instantly jump into the game. Maybe the reason you jump in is competitiveness; not wanting the other team to score against you even in a game you don’t like. But I think that the most likely answer is that you see your chance. I think that, from the sidelines, your mind forgets all the limitations of size and skill that frustrate you, and, as that ball goes rolling by, your mind says, “I can get it!” And just like that, bang! You’re off for glory and adventure.