Perspective

You know, I find it oh so very hard to maintain perspective sometimes. I was going through the French Open results and other articles to see what I might be able to send to members of North Pointe's Tennis League, and I run across this sight on MSN:

T E N N I S N E W S

• Blake, Venus try to improve U.S. tennis rep
• Nadal breaks consecutive clay-court wins record
• Likhovtseva 1st seeded player to lose at French Open
• Blake, Venus, Clijsters advance at Roland Garros
• Kohlloefel, Babos win NCAA singles title
• At No. 13, Venus Williams rankled by low ranking
• Federer overcomes slow start to win at French Open
• Roddick practices, probably will play at French Open
• Iraqi tennis coach, players killed for wearing shorts

There's one item that just doesn't fit in the list, isn't there. I can't believe it. The tennis playing western world is riveted to their tv sets to watch the French Open, and the tennis playing Middle Eastern world is dying for wearing shorts to play.

I pray for the tennis players and other athletes in that part of the world today. I experienced such freedom as a young girl playing tennis -- I can't imagine the surreal horror these tennis players must have felt just before they died.