Tar Heels

As I went through my day today, I was mindful of my attitude of gratitude, and since this was my first post, I really wanted it to be honest and meaningful. Now that the day has come to an end, the one thing I was most thankful for today was the University of North Carolina bowl game win over University of Tennessee!

Pretty lame, you may be thinking! Let me explain...

In less than two weeks, I will be venturing to Haiti once again. This will be the first time I have gone to Haiti as a team leader. In the past, I have been the "utility player", filling in wherever the team needed me, which often changed minute-to-minute. This time, I have formed the team, planned the trip, coordinated the efforts and have taken on the a nickname of "the glue" as I try to hold everything together.

I am thankful to have several of my dear friends accompanying me on this trip. Many I have traveled with to Haiti before, and others will be seeing the poorest country in the western hemisphere for the first time. It is a team made of veterans and rookies, friends and family.

My best pal, Tim, will be traveling with us. Tim and I first met in 2006 at Clean Water U in Oxford, Mississippi. We bonded over a day trip into town, visiting Ole Miss, and drinking Blue Moon at the Library in the town square. Our friendship has continued since, as we constantly email about our two greatest passions -- God and Sports!

I was thankful to stay with Tim and his wife Teresa on my road trip from Virginia to Nevada in November. We chatted over dinner, looked through pictures of Haiti, and watched Monday Night Football. A little wager took place that evening -- I was pulling for the Redskins; Tim took the side of the Eagles. The winner would have to put up the tent of the other in Haiti come January. As you may know, Michael Vick had a huge game, and the Eagles pummeled the Redskins.

Soon after, the Appalachian State Mountaineers would be playing the Florida Gators. I went to ASU, and Tim is a HUGE fan of Florida. Thus, we went double or nothing. ASU wins, we were even. Florida wins, I would be putting up Tim's tent and carrying all of his luggage. Despite Florida's less than stellar season, they came away with a victory. I was toast.

Thankfully, the football bowl schedule came out. UNC and Tennessee were set to meet in Nashville on December 30. I am a die-hard UNC fan; Tim lives in Tennessee. He conceded a triple or nothing bet. UNC wins, we would be back to even. Tennessee wins, I would be a slave to Tim the entire Haiti trip.

For anyone who watched the game, it was heart wrenching. Three points separated the score for most of the game. UNC was ahead until the final minutes, when Tennessee scored a touchdown but missed the extra point. Again, three points separated the score. UNC could not score. Tennessee could not score. UNC had the ball back with seconds remaining, and through a stroke of good luck, UNC managed to send the game into overtime with a field goal. In double-overtime, UNC came away with the win. (It was much more dramatic that this, but my pulse has barely returned!)

While I was mentally prepared and ready to be Tim's servant for a week in Haiti, I am thankful that I do not have to be his servant. The more I thought about it, though... isn't a leader truly a servant? Our ultimate example of leadership -- Jesus -- was a servant. He washed the feet of His disciples. He served the bread and the wine to his followers. He did not come to be served, but to serve.

So in the end, will I still serve Tim? Absolutely. I'd do anything for him, or any of the others, to make their burden lighter and to ensure their trip is meaningful and positive.

Am I still thankful that the Tar Heels came away with a victory? Absolutely! Tim can put up his own tent!

Grace & peace.