Randy Wray’s Blog

Madison is helping out a travel softball team as a bench catcher. Last night Reese and I waited in the car while Madison was catching. We could only be there for about a ¬? hour because we had a small group bible study to attend. The practice field is at a local high school field which abounds with activity on any given night.

The place is teeming with life and activity. People run around the track. People walk around the track. The Arlington kids football team practices on one side of the track infield. Another softball team practices on the other side. There is a batting cage and a basketball court. Young girls are brainwashed and indoctrinated to become cheerleaders. Parents sit in their folding camping chairs watching their youngsters become the next Peyton Manning or Donnavan McNabb.

The field is adjacent to the High School stadium. Last night’s activity in the stadium was girls field hockey. The PA system blared out the welcome, the introduction of players in the line up and began to play a recording of the national anthem.

It was as if someone had flipped a switch. All activity stopped on the fields in front of us. The kids practicing all stopped and stood silently through the singing. Parents rose from their camping chairs and placed their hands over their hearts. Even the hooligans on the basketball court stopped playing for the moment. It was quite an amazing site. It was so spontaneous, seemingly out of context.

The people on the practice fields had not come to see the field hockey game, could not even see the game from the practice fields. They could only hear the sounds. They heard the singing and stood. It was quite a sight.