The Socks Were Tall…

“Fear not…be strong and of good courage.”
Joshua 10:25

I pulled my team-issued tube socks all the way up. They climbed past my knees, so I folded them down to mirror the height of the rest of my team. It was the mid-80s… the shorts were short but the socks were tall…
Coach finished his pre-game chat and I followed my teammates out onto the gym floor to finish our warm-up.  As the huddle broke, I took my spot at the end of the bench. It was MY spot. No one told me to sit there. I simply knew I was the worst one on the team and I sat at the end of the bench with no intentions or expectations to see any minutes in the game. My seemingly oversized white and red Pony brand high tops looked brand new at nearly the conclusion of the season. They only wove through the defense crossing over to score a layup in my daydreams. 
I felt lucky enough to be numbered among the team and with those feelings came no expectation to play. 

Our star offensive player was good- really good. She was fun to watch. I wanted to be like her – earning the accolades of the team, coach, fans, and even college recruiters. But for now- I felt complacent as I watched from the end of the bench. 

Late into the season on a road trip, I warmed up with my team still nervous I would miss a wide-open layup in pregame and embarrass myself, my team, and my entire town. (Why was I so dramatic…?) Our team found ourselves on the winning side of most competitions. This was our last regular-season game before postseason tournaments. With just a few minutes left in the fourth quarter and a commanding lead…

Coach called my name. 

I froze…
Literally- I didn’t move…
My sweaty teammate nudged me…
My heart raced…
I slowly looked toward Coach. How embarrassing would it be if I thought he called me to go into the game and he actually just wanted me to reach for a warm-up jacket that had fallen behind me… or something…

I cautiously made eye contact with Coach and he waved me down toward him. He told me who to check-in for. I didn’t even know how to check into a game. The guy at the score table in the visiting town made it easy on me and within a few seconds, I was out on the court hoping the insufficient circumference on my legs would just keep my socks up. 

Play began quickly and I tried to remember my position the best I could. An unexpected pass came my direction. It seemed as though the moves in my head could actually physically be paralleled as I gave my defender a quick fake and dribbled twice to the basket for a layup. 
I got bumped and my 80-pound frame landed behind the basket. As if in slow motion- I looked up to see my shot bounce off the backboard, around the rim, and then in through the net…..

My team erupted in cheers. I couldn’t believe it myself…

I had scored…

It was almost embarrassing how many people congratulated me after the game. I seemed to receive more accolades than our star player who had won the game for us. 
But I felt like I had battled my fears and showed up with strength and courage when I finally made it onto the court. I could have easily received the pass and quickly sent it right back.
But I didn’t.
Nor did I realize at the time how important it would be that I gathered courage at that moment and took a chance. 

Scoring that layup was a caveat towards confidence. Confidence that fueled hard work on the court and eventually in my spiritual quest. 

Within a few years, my legs grew to fill out my tube socks. My confidence grew too as did my faith. It all began with quieting fear, taking myself off the bench, and showing up authentically with courage. 

Truly a pattern of behavior I still deliberately work towards… in life and in growing my faith.

-JC

Dark Chocolate Orange Cookies

1/2 cup soft butter
1/2 cup butter flavored Crisco
1 cup granulated sugar
1 cup packed brown sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 Tablespoons orange zest 
2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
2 cups dark chocolate pieces

Cream butter, Crisco, and sugars with an electric mixer on medium-high for 1 minute or until fluffy. Hand stir in eggs, vanilla extract and orange zest; don’t over-mix. Add dry ingredients all at once and mix until fully incorporated. Add 2-3 Tablespoons more flour for high elevation. Stir in dark chocolate pieces. Scoop out approximately 24 2” balls of dough.  Gently roll and flatten slightly.
(For a richer flavor and smoother texture refrigerate or freeze until ready to bake.)
Place on greased or parchment paper on an aluminum cookie sheet.   Bake at 375 degrees for 10+ minutes. Remove from the oven and immediately drizzle with Orange Glaze.
Let set. Share!

Orange Glaze
2 Tablespoons orange juice
1 cup powdered sugar
Zest of ½ an orange.
Use a food processor to thoroughly mix all ingredients.