notjustagame

As Christians, we understand [most of the time] that God does not promise a perfect life; instead He promises
His children nothing beyond what we can handle (I Corinthians 10:13), forgiveness of sins (Matthew 26:28;
Acts 13:38, 26:18) and thankfully a home in heaven if we live according to His Word (Ephesians 2:6). What
more could we possibly ask for… right? I sometimes forget this tiny, yet very significant, piece of information.
Not only is our worldly life imperfect, but sometimes it is unfair, challenging and distressing. I, however, have
fallen into that trap of thinking God’s children should be the ones to experience some of the advantages life
has to offer. The key to this keen desire of mine was that these advantages are earthly in nature, not
heavenly.

My story is about an amazing Christian man who lives his life for God, raised his children in the church and
continues daily to improve his life and his knowledge of God’s Word. His name is Coach Brown and he has
spent his adult life teaching boys how to play the game of basketball and how to deal with the game of “life.”
In my vast experience of high school basketball, I deem him the greatest high school coach that Kentucky
has ever seen – his son would be a close second. You never heard a foul word come from his mouth, even in
the toughest-fought games where the referees were less than stellar and the ball was simply not falling. He
expected great things from his players in the classroom, at home and on the court. He possessed a winning
heart, a demanding spirit and an endearing love for his players. Coach Brown knew the X’s and O’s of this
game and knew how to best exhaust his players’ abilities. This game he coached, this game he loved… it
became his life. These boys essentially represented on the court the wins and losses of his career. Every
year he fought the battle, spent endless nights watching video, studied the opponent, and exhaustively
prepared his players, giving all he had to four quarters of the sport of basketball. If you are a fan of Kentucky
high school basketball, you understand the sheer joy one experiences as a coach or player who makes the
Sweet 16. This Coach, this Christian man, who spent his life as one of God’s children, never got to make that
thrilling, once-in-a-lifetime journey to one of Kentucky’s greatest events. The finale to each year, just short of
that ultimate goal, resulted in many tears, great disappointment and the “shear agony of defeat.” Why can
such an amazing man, such a talented and dedicated coach and a true father to many young men, never
receive the blue ribbon to such a deserving finish?

I remember, in one of those disappointing moments of loss, telling Coach Brown that it was so unfair that he
never was able to make that journey. His response… “Leslie maybe it is my job to teach boys how to become
men; not simply win a basketball game.” In that moment, I realized that he truly “got it.” He understood God’s
purpose for him… and I was questioning God’s fairness.

This Coach Brown, this man who impacted me in such a remarkable way is my dad. To this day, I want him to
make it to the Kentucky High School State Basketball Tournament… just once… just one glory day that
rewards him for his hard work, his dedication to this game and love for so many young boys who have now
become successful men. Although he has retired from the game, I still have hopes that he will experience a
state tournament of his own. That state tournament, that ultimate goal that I want for him… it is really a home
in heaven. His state tournament is not four quarters that take place in Lexington, Kentucky; rather it is an
eternal home in this beautiful place we call “heaven”… a place that no human mind can possibly fathom. In
my heart, I know my dad, Coach Brown, will make it to the state tournament; this state tournament, though,
will not take place on this earth… and I could not be happier knowing that he will make that amazing journey
one day.

Leslie Bray is currently Athletic Relations Coordinator at the University of Kentucky. She was born and raised in southcentral Kentucky.

Not Just a Game by Leslie Bray