Lessons About Taking a Stand: Part I (week 513)

This was a challenging week for me because it involved some of the things that I most value in life: friends, sports, and following the rules.  I learned a lot about leadership this week, and the cost of taking a stand against something that I don't think is right.

It all started on the playground at Patrick Henry Elementary School.  Lately, we have been playing finger football tournaments at our recess and lunch, including vast tournament brackets, countdown clocks, and homemade field goal standards.  It has attracted the attention of about 6 hard core regular players and a few casual amateurs on a daily basis.  Generally it is a good deal because we are not allowed to play actual football, and we are in the middle of football season.  We have to get our rivalries and trash talking out on the field one way or another.

The problems began because my good friend John has become increasingly creative with the rules so that they always seem to benefit him.  For instance, the clock is always running on field goals and extra points when it suits him, and he doesn't allow an extra point on a touchdown after the time has expired.  The results on the field of these little rule changes seem to always work out in his favor, and the results off the field have led to tears and feelings that we have lost the integrity of the game.  It has gotten so controversial, that parents have now been talking to one another, and trying to think of "life lessons" that can be taught from such an experience.

So, I talked with mom, and mom talked with other moms about what to do about the situation.  They don't want to get involved in the finger football directly but these are the responses to small experiences that build character over a lifetime.  So, my friends Nate, Dylan and I decided that we are going to take a stand against the injustice this week.  We set our plan that we would cease to participate if the rules were changed on us.  If we had to, we would boycott the finger football tournament all together.  With another week of action coming, and a full 8.5" x 11" page of matchups already set, it is going to be an interesting week.

To be continued next week...