"Once a Wildcat Always a Wildcat."

I've been asked recently why I have taken the time to be the Chaplain of the Edmonton Wildcat Junior Football Team. People have come up to me and asked, "When in your schedule are you going to fit this in?" "Why a football team and why be a chaplain?" These questions were ones that I have been thinking about for a while now, and as time passed my thoughts became clearer and reasons became more apparent. 

You see when first asked by our Team President if I would consider this

opportunity it was the excitement and the thrill of being close once again to the action that caught my attention. The dirt, the fight, and the victories were all a great motivation to join the team and honestly this still thrills me. As the team prepares for battle my heart prepares with them. As the game struggle begins and the team breaks through to victories my spirit is carried along, challenged by every setback, saddened by every injury and thrilled by every touchdown.

But now a new motivation is beginning to take precedence. You see, over the past year I have been honoured to be able to work along side, or meet the Wildcats from past and present. Men of honour, dedicated to each other, and to a common goal. Men who know the challenges that lie before them but without hesitation step into the fight, step up to the challenge and push through to victory. 

Now you might surmise that I am solely speaking about the football games with all their drama and excitement, but I'm not. 

Rather, I am speaking about the men of integrity that I have met in this city who have, at one time, been a Wildcat. Businessmen, lawyers, bankers and civic leaders all who at one time wore either the Edmonton Wildcat or the Edmonton Maple Leaf Jersey.

Leaders... Men among men with names like Marco, Ryan and Dave and of course Big Al all speak to us. Men whose legacy lives on beyond the time in uniform, beyond the 60 minutes on a field, to the time when they would carry those around them forward into the future. 

Men who give more then they ever expect to get back. Men who have lived their lives for others. 
Men who have sacrificed in the hope that another would win. Hmm somehow these attributes seem familiar. Almost Christ-like.

It is for these men that I stand on the sidelines and offer my heart to the new team of men. It is for the greatest leader who ever lead a team of men that I do what I do. It is for those who have come before that I give my all to encourage the team, support the team but above all pray for the team as this years men suit-up

You see the Wildcats (Maple Leafs)...

... have not solely been in the business of making a football team... 

...but rather making real men who play football... 

...and while they are at it, win championships. 

So as we are about to once again put on the pads and take the field. I call on the men of renown, the Wildcats of Old to once again rise up and call out these young men to the legacy that is theirs for the taking. Join us in battle once again, and challenge us from the stands. Further, I call on the team of today to answer the call and find within themselves the character and integrity that it means to be a wildcat. Then we will be men among boys... remember...

Oh yeah... that is why I'm a Wildcat!

The Wood Anthology - the beginning

Winston Churchill the great leader and Prime Minister of the British Empire was once asked "what was your greatest accomplishment?" What was the one thing that he considered the greatest single thing that he was able to do with his life? 

Here was his response...

"My most brilliant achievement was my ability to be able to persuade my wife to marry me." Winston Churchill 

Now to some, this statement may be difficult to understand. Some may read it and not recognize just what is the depth of this statement. Allow me to give you my thoughts on this. 26 years ago I persuaded Julie Young to "take a flyer" or "bet on a long shot". For some reason she agreed and the story of David and Julie began. Along the way discoveries were made and truths uncovered, and together the tale was woven into the amazing tapestry of God's truths.

The Wood Anthology - the beginning

Humbly at first, there were two young people who simply believed. Believed in a loving God and a plan that just needed to be walked out. So walk they did. First to London, the land of discovery and the place where their adventure was first challenged. An evening listening to the whispers from the Lord and the crackling of a fire... a school burning to the ground.  

Faith and Faithfulness is forged not simply found.  

Fire is needed and fire we had.

Theirs is an epic tale of trial and challenge, vision and passion. Yes there is passion, but that tale is for other eyes only. But I digress... above all else it is a tale of God's amazing grace extended to a young man and woman. The tale of a kind, patience girl who along with God transforms a young "whipper snapper" into a respected church leader and man of God. 

My working title is, "If she could see me now...my mother-in-law would not believe her eyes." 

Faith is not ever what you see but what God sees.

Oh don't misinterpret this description this indeed is an epic tale. Complete with all the memorable characters from classic literature. There is the thoughtful wise elders guiding the couple on their journey, the family members coming alone side for a time, and the comic relief characters that are added to the troupe to keep the story moving along. Clearly, their influence cannot be under valued for they were the road markers that pointed the way when the road became overgrown or too dark to see. With two ears and one mouth our next discovery was found.

Faith grows only when you listen twice as much as you speak.

As the old maps say "Here... there be dragons". Huge, vicious dragons. Not the ones of modern tales, friendly and wise but those of ancient literature, evil and full of rage. Here the journey dives into the dark times, times of fear and distress; hospitals and surgeries, problems and pain. Dragons rose out of the pit to destroy all but mostly to burn the heart of love and faith that was growing in their hearts. All this is a part of this tale too, all of this exists to purify the faith that has been placed there by God. Each dragon released and designed by God, the author of this tale, for the perfection of the couple. But through it all there is the grace of God and the love of a girl and boy for each other that breaks the greatest obstacle and kills the largest dragon.

Faith must be tested or it will never really be faith at all.

So as I sit and reflect on this epic tale my heart and mind goes back to the statement from Winston Churchill, truly the greatest single accomplishment that I did in my life was to kneel in the snow, open a small box and hear those amazing words...Yes Dave...I will marry you.

Thank you Julie for 26 amazing years, I'm looking forward to the next chapter in this tale. If this blog feels unfinished...that is because, it is...