GAME CHANGER

Good morning, all. Here's my latest for you. I hope you have a game changing day.


GAME CHANGER

The players are milling about at field’s edge
clumping here and there on the sidelines and bantering excitedly. 
Some are bending in half and then half again it seems,
stretching their lanky frames while eyeing askance their enemies afar
Some, the loners, pacing, prancing
dancing their ball off the toes of their sleek leather-laced feet. 
Some waving frantically--practically blowing kisses--to their late-arrival star-mates,

The spectators are here, too, 
tush cushions insulating a “Be prepared!” few from the chill of the aluminum bleachers 
Water bottles and Starbucks cups orbiting lap to lip, lap to lip, lap to lip
A smatter of chatter erupting here then there...old jokes, new recipes, 
fresh-off-the-farm gossip crooned while awaiting the whistle.

And then, of course, there are the officials,
always at the ready with their rules,    
preened and primed to bellow out their calls. 
Good, bad, maddening, what they say stands. 
After all, they are the powers that be, right?

And finally, the all-essential game ball.

Some days, especially bad days, I feel like I'm that ball,
Small and even paltry compared to the real players in the game, 
Like I’m someone else’s patchwork, full of air, often hot
Butting heads, tossed about, booted this way and that 
So close to glory then “Youch!” 
kicked willy nilly silly again. 

I ask myself, “How did I get here?”
How did I wind up at the epicenter of all this?
I want to scream, “I didn’t ask to be in this game, God.
Come to think of it, God, YOU didn’t ask me if I wanted to be in this game either!”
The players, the spectators, the officials. God? All of you taking me for granted.
Just assuming I’m going to put on my smiley face and say, “Here, kick me!”

On good days though,  
I remember that no, I’m not the ball.
I’m not the players, the spectators, the officials.
And no, lucky for you,
I’m not God either.

And then comes the game changer,
the one and only rule I must remember:
No matter the “players”, the “spectators”, the “officials,” 
when it comes to life, 
the moment I come to life
is when I realize anew
that the real powers that be
lie within me.