Basketball on an Outdoor Court in Antigua

Last Saturday at the healthy living conference I met a Rastaman named “Mozambique”. As he was laid back and easy to talk to I took an immediate liking to him. He looked very active. When I asked him what he did to stay in such good shape he answered “I like to play basketball”. Being a baller from long time myself I immediately sized him up to see whether he might be able to guard me. My first guess was likely not. I could feel trash talk already welling up in me and about to pass my lips. But given that this conference was full of very centered and spiritual types I kept the “street” in me to myself. But I did exchange numbers with him and promised to meet him and his buddies the next morning on the Clare Hall basketball court near my home. I had survived the conference with my sense of peace and goodwill intact. Just as I turned to go my new found friend  called out after me “I hope I see you there … you don’t have to make any excuses if you feel your game is too weak and you feel afraid to come down … I’ll understand”.

At the same time that I thought “talk is cheap” I was also happy that it hadn’t been me who had said something like that when we were trying to be spiritual. I smiled and waved at him and said nothing as I departed. I definitely would be there the next day with what my new friend would come to recognize as 100% grade A prime North American game. “Jah gives guidance and teaching” I thought to myself  ”and at least one Rastaman on this island is going to wonder if it was the almighty Jah himself  that brought me to teach and school him on the court tomorrow”.

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