My First Professional Sports Game: Lakers V. Nuggets

I realize that the topic of this blog post is an anomaly for this site; however, I thought I’d share some of my thoughts as a first-timer.

My husband has loved the Lakers since they were in their namesake state:  Minnesota, which, I admit dates him a bit.  (You can read more about their history here.)  The point being, that he’s not a “new” fan as I am.  A bit about how I slowly by slowly became a Laker fan is found in this post on Psalm 37:4.  I bought him Arsenal tickets for his birthday, but I was sick and we didn’t get to go.

So, I found out that the Lakers were playing at Honda Center in a pre-season game.  For $38 each, I thought it was a good deal.  October is a late birthday celebration for a February birthday, but it was still very exciting.

I’ve never been to a professional sports game.  Now, I’ve been to the Honda Center back when it was the Arrowhead Pond for a few Gaither concerts, but I’ve never sat in the 400 section before.  Mercier wanted to be sure to see the whole game. He assured me that sitting higher was better, for the overview, and as close as possible either to the center or a goal (the basket).

When will NBA come to Orange County?

I just finished reading…

I decided to redeem my commute.

A 63 page book seemed like an achievable goal, so I took The Climax of the Risen Life by Jessie Penn-Lewis with me on my morning ride to work, committing to only read one chapter at a time.

My mother-in-law would frequently talk about and quote from her more famous book The Centrality of the Cross (which I have yet to read), so I decided that this booklet about the Risen Life would be just the trick.

I would read a chapter then meditate and pray on it.  There is so much in each chapter that it is almost overwhelming.

This excerpt is from Chapter V:  The Melted Heart of Calvary:

Is this “heart of compassion” possible for each of us? Yes, for the apostle writes: “Put on,” as “God’s elect, holy and beloved, a heart of compassion…” And why?  “Seeing that ye have put off the ‘old man’ with his doings…” (Colossians 3:9 R.V.)  Calvary’s cross is a place of blessing. There let the old narrow, earth-born limitations be put away.  There let the old selfish, self-seeking, self-grasping life be left, as we “put on” the “new man which is being renewed…” after the image of Him that created him, where there cannot be “earthly distinctions, divisions, separations,” but “Christ alone all in all.”

I recommend it highly.  For no other reason than the fact that it gives perspective.  That is, why would I worry about person A offending me, when I have the crucified life?  Why would I worry about my job? And so on.