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...Finding God's Presence Away from Church. Edie Kalweit

Editor's note: We strive, as a webteam, to bring stories that are of interest to parishioners whether or not they occur at SJA as long as they have the potential for helping us on our journeys. Sports, in today's world of big business, contraction talks, and high salaries for professional athletes, often gets a bad reputation. Sometimes it is important to remind ourselves that these "games" are a part of many of our lives and as such can be "touched by God's Spirit".

A college women's soccer team holding hands at midfield during the playing of the Star Spangled Banner… Few times during my life, have I been so touched. Their behavior was their own and spontaneous. In fact, the coach was unaware of what they had done. His back was to the team as he faced the flag. The beauty of their gesture was in how it was executed. One of the players took the hands of players on each side of her, and so it went. No one hesitated to take the hand of another, until the entire team was joined. They stood quietly and pensively those moments as the song played.

This was a conference tournament playoff weekend, the last time in all probability that these girls would play as a team together. Tears came to the eyes of many parents. For the seniors and their parents, this was the culmination of many years of hard work, of winning and of losing but most importantly of learning the meaning of "team."

This team was blessed with talent, but struggled the entire season to put the ball into the net, to get the job done! Winning often seemed within reach, but elusive. Victory was to be theirs at this tournament, though. They were not the favorites, but they took the championship.

"Heart" is underestimated much of the time, but time and again it proves to be the most important element of all. Talent blossoms with heart and dies without it. One team wins and another doesn’t often because of "heart." Fans had been reserved during much of the season, but they too gave the tournament everything they had! No one held back! One Mom (old enough to have other children in their late thirties) spread her arms and legs and jumped into the air as each player was announced. Cheering was loud and enthusiastic. Energy seemed to transfer onto the field. The championship game was perhaps the best game played by both teams the entire season.

Edie Kalweit has been a St. Joan of Arcer for 24 years now. Now that her children are grown, there is time to participate more fully in activities taking place at St. Joan's.

The simple gesture of holding hands touched players and fans alike. In those few moments "many" became "one." This was a moment we all sensed the immense power of unity. " We are, (as the song we sing reminds us), One in the Spirit, We are One in the Lord." Even if this team had lost the game, they had made each of their parents and coaches and mentors proud. They had the hearts of all who watched.