blessed with a burden

Sometimes blogging seems like a waste. My little view counter assures me people are reading but then I try not to peek. It's easier to be honest when I think I'm the only one reading it. I thought about holding off on the blog tonight so I didn't look like a dork that's on myspace on a saturday night... but here I am.

A while ago I heard someone talking about blessings. He mentioned we assume blessings mean good things. One of Webster's definitions for blessing is "a thing conducive to happiness or welfare." The speaker argued blessings don't have to be good, but are things that will make us become more like God. We're more comfortable with sunshine and flowers, but sometimes we become stronger through the tough stuff. I don't know many people who ask for hardships, but sometimes blessings come in forms we can't recognize right away.

I've been trying to wrap my head around the blessings idea for the last week... trying to be thankful for the blessings in my life... even if they don't look like blessings right now. Meanwhile... I pop in Freedom Writers (starring Hilary Swank with previews that appeared to be a ripoff of Dangerous Minds) and towards the end of the movie, the star teacher is getting through to the kids while her dad, who had previously doubted the credibility of her job, tells her "You've been blessed with a burden." Who usually pairs "blessed" with "burden"? I don't think we're all called to be inner-city teachers preventing kids from slipping through the cracks. (thanks to those who are!) I do think we are all blessed with a burden to make a difference.

I can go through my day merely counting rebounds and tracking wins, but my heart... my heart could care less about that stuff. I don't think this is a forever thing... but right now I want to make a difference here. Of course I look forward to letting a methu rockstar know they broke a record or writing about another championship team... but even more than that... I love hearing from the student-athlete who gets their grades up or finds that dream internship or talks themselves into being who they are without wearing the mask. They make it worth it... not so much of a burden then is it? More like a blessing.