Joey...

By Stewart Whittemore

"This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.” John 15:12

My son-in-law, Jeff, coaches my grandson Brandon's Boys and Girls Club High School Division basketball team. On that team they have a standout player named Joey. Joey is a challenged youth with Down's Syndrome. However, Joey is not challenged by Jesus' commandment to love one another. He even draws that love out from everyone he comes in contact with. In this first game of the season, Joey demonstrated that love to his fellow players and to the packed crowd of parents attending the game.

It surprised me, I must admit, to see Joey on the team because of his physical limitations. I remembered Joey. I drove as a substitute driver on a school bus route last year when Joey was a freshman. He always sat in the front seat across from me because it was difficult for him to climb the stairs leading into the bus let alone maneuver down the aisle to find another seat in the rear of the bus.

Joey was such a joy to have on my bus. He always greeted me with a smile and a "Hi, Stewart!" when he got on. I remember how the other students met Joey with "high-fives" when they got on the bus. He brought something special with him when he was riding with us to the point one could feel the difference when he was absent.

Now Joey was on Brandon's basketball team, and not just on it, but was one of the starting five that would begin this first game of the season. In any case, it really pleased me to see Joey on the team. It also made me proud of Jeff for having him on his team. Little did I realize, however, what added joy and excitement was in store for us from Joey's presence on the team.

When the game started I wondered how the other team would react to Joey being on the floor. And I wondered if Brandon's team would include Joey in their play. I shouldn't have worried because the Lord was in control. And, in fact, the game remained pretty close at first, even with Joey having difficulty staying with his man as they ran up and down the court.

Then it happened! Brandon's team was taking the ball down the court when all of a sudden there was Joey, all alone and with no one guarding him. They passed the ball to Joey and he started to dribble the ball slowly toward the basket. Two defenders came up to him, but instead of trying to block him they just stayed in front of him and backed up while he moved forward, as if leading Joey slowly toward the basket. The game seemed to go into slow motion at this point, as if to put brackets around this very special moment. I think everyone was captivated at the scene that was unfolding on the court in front of us. Then all at once Joey took a shot at the basket. He was too far out, I thought. The ball hit the backboard, rolled around the rim of the basket (which seemed like forever) and then dropped in. The crowd erupted in cheers and applause for Joey's accomplishment with most jumping to their feet. And as if to prove this was no fluke, Joey would duplicate that feat one more time before the game ended with a similar response from the crowd.

I don't think anyone cared that Joey's team lost the game. It was just such a joy to experience the warmth of that love that poured forth from that auditorium on that cold winter day in our small town here in Oregon.

I don't think any of us will ever forget that game. There was probably more of Jesus' love displayed during it, not only from Joey who even came over to hug each of his student friends at half time that came to watch the game, but because of the love that was drawn out from the other players along with the rest of us who were there.

We must continue to pray that love overtakes the hatred that plagues our world today. Proverbs 10:12: "Hatred stirs up strife, But love covers all sins.”
Thank you, Jesus, for your love and for Joey!

Stewart Whittemore writes from Grants Pass, Oregon. stewart33@earthlink.net