Friday Focus

As I See It…
Volleyball Tournament

By Victoria Santiago

On Sunday, December 3, Mary, Carissa, Jose, Karl, Aileen, Tamika, James, and I all went to the MBA Volleyball Tournament. It took so long to get there, but the long drive was worth it! Mostly all the teams had volleyball uniforms. They looked really professional. Our first game was with Miramonte. They were really good! They won easily, but I think it's because we were nervous. After that game, my nervousness slowly went away, and I started to play better.

In one game we had with VHM, we had a tie! So we had to play an extra game. We were doing really good. Our servings were amazing! With almost another tie, they had won! Still, we had one more school to play against. The school was Peninsula. In that game we won so easily! We played really good in that game! In all we won 3 out of 9 games. That wasn't so bad!

What I learned from this trip is that two or more minds working together are better that one lonely mind working alone. Teamwork is everything in a game. Without teamwork no one wins. Even though we didn't win a lot of games, we had so much fun. It even made me want to join a volleyball team! I learned so much from one day...and I'm glad I went!

More pictures of Sunday's Volleyball Tournament can be found online.

View photos here...

'Tis the Season to be Jolly?

Did you know that stress and depression can ruin your holidays and affect your health?

Did you know that holiday stress and depression are often the result of three main trigger points? Understanding these trigger points can help you plan ahead on how to accommodate them.

Learn more about how to avoid holiday stress at:

The Mayo Clinic...

'Tis the Season

We are fully engaged in the Christmas Season now. Stores feature big sales. Evergreen trees have popped up everywhere – loaded down with subtle to lovely to gaudy ornaments. Some of us are even reflecting on the original Christmas Story. A major movie release last week tells it anew in cinematic form.

So where will you and your family choose to focus during this season?

For some, 'tis the season of controversy. So it makes good press and good pulpit to decry the "secularization of Christmas." Nativity scenes are banned from public property in some places and featured in others. Some stores are having "holiday" sales and playing "winter" music; others are having "Christmas" sales and playing "religious" music. Passions erupt. Left versus right. Sacred versus secular. My thinking versus your thinking. Another chapter in the so-called culture wars is written.

For others, 'tis the season of spending. Some companies do the majority of their annual business during this one season. Some families ruin their annual budgets during the same period. And many individuals sweat the issue of buying for this person but not for that one. Not a few now purchase and stock generic gifts in order to have a quick-response package for the person who unexpectedly puts something in his or her hands – in order not to offend.

For still others, 'tis the season of religion. People who otherwise never darken the door of a church building will attend a Christmas service. Most will prefer that it be decidedly musical over speaking, entertaining over instructive, inspiring over reflective. And they feel they have paid their dues for the season. Perhaps for the year.

But what if the point of Christmas is not to "fight back against the secular folk" out there? People who don't believe in Jesus see us "Christians" as too quick to want to fight with them anyway...at times they even see us fight amongst ourselves! Sure, it's as silly to have Christ-mas with the Christ-references removed as to celebrate Lincoln's birthday without talking about our country's sixteenth president. And what if we buy gifts – but not with money we don't have? Adjusting spending to budget? Mostly, however, maybe we could do something for our church or favorite charity. It's a good thing to let someone going through some really hard times know that someone cares.

And the religious parts – music, film, readings, sermons, and the like – can be part of the ongoing rhythm of life. It doesn't have to be seasonal. Don't shut it down on December 26. Let it be natural and easy. It will both connect you with those who share your faith and testify gently to those who don't.

'Tis the season, all right. Let's try to use it in positive, appropriate ways.

--Rubel Shelly