The sound of laughter, the smell of good food, and the sight of students from church graced our home. As I filled up my Christmas party plate, I noticed who was sitting around our dining table. Tears filled my eyes, memories flooded my mind, and gratitude enveloped my heart.

Over two-and-a-half decades ago I heard a knock on my door. Danny and Davíd, two Jr. High brothers who lived down the street, wanted to know if they could play basketball in my backyard. (If you went to school with Davíd, you know him as Pizza – the boy loved his cafeteria slices.) I happily agreed and told them they could play anytime. Early the following Saturday I had to tell them to wait until at least 9:00.

A few weeks later I told them our church had a new gym. It was two-hundred feet from their house. I asked if they’d like to invite a few friends to come play after school on Tuesday. They acted like they’d won the lottery. “Tuesday Basketball” was on!

One Tuesday the brothers invited their friend, DeJuan. He swished a smooth floater his first time down the court. This kid could play. Later that kid connected with our church, began following Jesus, asked me to do his wedding (where all the guys wore Air Jordans), and has been part of my life ever since.

DeJuan never showed up on a Tuesday without his best friend, David L. David brought the energy and the joy. One day he lost his balance at 100mph and smashed a hole in the gym wall with his backside. It’s patched, much to my disappointment. I wanted to put a picture frame around the hole and hang a plaque in his honor.

A year later God let us care for David during an unbelievably difficult time in his life. He lived with us for a season, then with other church friends. We saw him baptized and graduated. I performed his wedding on a beach in Florida. He lives there with his wife and two kids, full of faith and love.

On another Tuesday the guys brought Omar. I always liked hooping with soccer players like Danny and Omar. They always knew the angles, and they never quit running. Omar and I started playing before my son, Levi, was born, and we played together the week before Levi left for college. A few years later we played the week before his son left for college.

Many other guys and a few ladies came through our gym over the years. Some came a few times, some played for years. Sometimes they reach out to me, or I hear my name called by someone around town. I’ve stood with them on wedding stages and in baptismal waters (and who can forget Franco slipping and doing a cannonball into our baptistry). I’ve mentored some, counseled others, visited one in prison, one homeless, and I got to hear about the work one of them does in Greenwood (Black Wall Street). Some of them are doing well and some are struggling.

I see Pizza (Davíd) going on walks, juggling things on fire (for real, go to First Friday downtown), and bringing his kid to VBS.

I lost track of Danny for about fifteen years, but then one day I neared the finish of a long jog on the Mingo Trail. I was completely zoned out when I felt a bicycle go by. I heard a familiar voice, “Brian!” We stood on the trail and learned about where life had taken us. We’ve been able to connect several times since then. My family even got to know his daughter. She attends youth group when she visits from out of state. Danny has an amazing daughter!

Omar & Liz’s kids are so special to us. Their middle child was the first best friend my youngest daughter had. As a parent, you never quit thanking God for friends like that. DeJuan & Maddie’s daughters are equally special. Their youngest has spent countless hours with our family, being a faithful friend to our daughter. We’ve loved their oldest since the day we heard she was on her way (news delivered at the Carl Smith Softball Complex). As an older student, she cares for our daughter in the youth group, and carries her through some tennis matches.

Five reminders of God’s goodness sat around our table.

I walked to the table, motioned at Danny’s daughter, and said, “If it weren’t for her dad, I don’t think we’d know each other.” The others did not know her well, and they did not know this story. They were very kind to listen to me tell it, and they were gracious to let me snap a photo.

Two kids knocked on my door. I answered. I grieve the times I’ve missed the opportunities God has placed in front of me, but I’m so thankful for his grace.

Two kids knocked on my door, about 26 years ago. God works in milliseconds, but he also works in decades and beyond.

Open those doors. Take those opportunities. Be patient. The work God does may be revealed tomorrow or three generations from now. God is working, and he invites you to come alongside him.

*So many people have prayed for and cared for the people I mentioned. There are too many to list. They taught me how to love and give. Thank you.
**Many people played on our court for years Tuesday. We eventually moved it to Sunday nights, and then to Tuesday nights. I could write much more about people from those times.

basketball decades faithfulness knocking moment