Editorial November 12, 1990 Issue

Just when you think God's kingdom is pretty remote...

Michael D. Rissler

A middle-aged professor in one of Garrison Keillor's Lake Wobegon stories sees basketball as a metaphor. "It is such a beautiful game," he says, "played with the legs and the tips of the fingers, demanding that you be a horse and also a bird."

The character goes on to tell of family challenges and to describe how he plays in a senior league and in the driveway against Eric, his son. "One on one, father and son. We're much more decent and fair to each other in the driveway," he admits, "than when we compete in the house."

Keillor's story may be made up, but as usual there's a moral that isn't fictional. We all learn valuable lessons, sometimes on basketball courts and sometimes in other unexpected places.

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