Yes, things have been lost

We must admit that we have suffered a loss.

Many, in fact.

Physical.

Grandfathers and grandmothers. Parents. Siblings. Best friends. They have died. Been taken from us by a killer none of us knew about just a few short months ago.

By now we all know of coronavirus - COVID-19. It has disrupted life in ways small and large.

None bigger than the actual ending of life. We grieve along with those who have suffered this loss of life. Words cannot express what they feel, what we feel, how both parties ache.

Some of these losses will haunt those who have lost. They could not be present because of hospital rules and significant concerns about who might be infected. So some of those we have lost were alone. And that hurts and haunts and brings us to our knees.

And there are other losses.

A high school senior year disrupted.

Prom? Probably gone.

Graduation? Up in the air. Almost gone. More than likely altered at least.

The spring sports team? Probably done. 

The final band, orchestra, choir concert? The final dance? The scholarship breakfast? The senior picnic, last day of school? All hang in the balance.

No matter how many people say we will get through this, that we will look back on this and remember the lessons that we learned, what we know now is that we have lost.

So let us give ourselves time to grieve. To ache. To let our hearts break.

It is OK.

We can't stay here forever. At some point we must pick up and move on.

But right now, we can hurt. Don't tell me there is a silver lining, a lesson to be learn, that it is part of a bigger plan.

Just sit with me. Share my pain. Let me know that you care. Let me know that you understand . . . that things have been lost.

Be quiet. Be kind. Be there.

It's a broken heart . . . it's supposed to hurt

Last night, as I sat in our Novi High School National Honor Society induction ceremony, two of our Novi High School winter sports teams were competing in the state playoffs.

Both lost.

But that does not tell the whole story.

Winter sports is a grind. The season seems long. It stretches from one calendar year to the next. It encompasses holidays. The weather outside can be dismal.

Yet, these student athletes practice each day, show up on game day, give everything they have.

Our Novi High School girls basketball team had the lead at halftime against a perennial power. Unfortunately, the second half did not go our way and the girls lost.

Our Novi High School boys hockey team also played a perennial power. The game went to three overtimes. Our goalie stopped 54 shots, but, ultimately, the boys also lost.

Today, by chance, I bumped into our hockey coach. He said two important things. First, it hurt. Second, this is what high school sports is all about.

I am sure that our girls and boys hearts are heavy today. Both teams had a chance. You play to win. And it did not happen.

That hurts.

But it is the chance you take when you play the game. These athletes knew going in that only one team a season wins the last game of the year. Only one team celebrates. The rest have their hearts broken.

And that is the beauty of high school sports. Participating in athletics helps learn lessons that may not be learned in the classroom. Winning is fun. But the lessons learned can, and may, define a lifetime. 

Hard work.

Grit.

Planning.

Practice.

Creativity.

Curiosity.

Team work.

Collaboration.

Communication.

These lessons and many more are learned as our students engage in our athletic program.

Broken hearts will heal.

And the lessons learned will, hopefully, help our students continue to have confidence as they move forward with their lives.