I've got your back!

If anyone of you were wondering why I haven't posted in what seems like forever, it's because I had mid-terms week followed by Spring Break. I had no time during the former, and no motivation during latter. Sorry. I know you were all checking my blog EVERY day during my 2 week hiatus, anxiously awaiting my next brilliant piece of literary genius...that was a little redundant, wasn't it? Oh well.

Anyway, I'm back, so smile! Speaking of "backs," I got this really cool t-shirt from my former high school. They made them for the state basketball tournament, and the backside says, "We got your back!" followed by the verse Hebrews 3:13, which says, "But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called 'Today,' so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness." First of all, it's a cool idea for a fan section t-shirt for obvious reasons. For the dimwitted among you, I'll explain it anyway. Fans encourage people. The verse on the shirt is about encouragement. The line "We got your back" is not only ironic for being on the back of the shirt, but it plays off of the idea of being a fan and supporting your team while simultaneously referring to the Bible verse. Mind. Blown.

Second, it reminds me of a story. It's not a great story for anyone other than me, but whatever. So as part of the culture of our team, we let people know how they're doing during practice through verbal reinforcement. If someone does something good, like go all out for a ball, we let them know that we thought it was good and tell them right then and there with "Yes ____! That a way ____! Good effort ____!" etc. We build each other up. And let me tell you something, there's no better feeling than going all out for a ball and then having your teammates encourage you afterwards. Making a great save is cool, but hearing someone shout "Great save!" afterwards is even better. It makes you want to do it again. And again. And again. So the next time a similar situation comes up, you do the same thing, because you remember the encouragement.

But not only should we be building each other up in athletics, as brothers and sisters in Christ, God tells us we should be building each other up spiritually, as well. The verse on my shirt reminds us that when we encourage each other in Christ, we do more than just make them feel good. We literally help them from falling back into the sinful culture of the world. Just like in soccer, when others encourage you to do something, it becomes easier to do it, because you know they have your back. When we encourage each other to live according to God's culture, it keeps us from being hardened by sin. So who's back are you gonna have today?

My name is Amy Swearer, and POTS stole my life. I'm taking it back.

My Big Debut...

Wow it's been a busy two weeks! I haven't had time to breathe much less sit down and write a new post...so good news and bad news. Which would you like to hear first? .........since you're not answering you'll get what I give you. The good news - I finally played in my first game as a Husker!!!! The bad news - on a scale of 1 to 10, 10 being "Holy cow, All-American!" and 1 being "I couldn't have dreamed of playing this bad even in my worst nightmare," my Husker debut was like a 3. Embarassing. I know it's been 9 months since I've played in a game that counted for anything, but it's still disappointing to go in feeling nervous and end up with a bad result. But such is life.

The BETTER news is that I bounced back and had a very solid 20 minute shift today against Kansas! Gave up a goal, but it was off of a breakaway and there wasn't much I could do. Still stinks giving up the goal, but we ended up with the win and with those first game jitters gone, I was a lot less nervous and started feeling like my old self again! EXCITING!!! And my dad was there to see me play!!! yay! Except he had to fly back home after the game...BOOOOOOO flying home. I miss him already. I know you can't see this, but I just made a really sad face. It's amazing how much more you appreciate your parents when you don't get to see them all the time....or when they don't pay for gas.....or take you out to dinner......or give you hugs......or make you laugh....has that feeling of lonliness and homesickness swept over you yet? Good. That makes two of us.

I said this before, but it's been a really busy two weeks. Lot's of homework, practice, and other bundles of fun like migraines. It's just been a lot to deal with and I find that a lot of times, when we get really busy and caught up in the riggors of life, we let other really important things fall to the wayside....like our time with God. Life is short. It's full of a lot things we spend waaaay too much time on even though they won't matter when we die. Make sure you take the time to invest in things that will last. (Yes that was hint to go read your Bible and pray...I was trying to be subtle....which is ironic because this parenthetical part is completely NOT subtle...oh well.)