Friday's w/ Dan #7

This week’s episode is all about the quiet, meaningful moments that snuck up on me — the ones that didn’t make any noise but somehow carried the most weight. We start with the real story of St. Patrick and how his life of humble faithfulness ended up shaping my whole week. From there, we talk about a Wichita State freshman who reminded me what it looks like to do the unglamorous work, a simple handwritten note from a podcast guest that hit deeper than I expected, and a moment with my sister that left me feeling honored in a way I didn’t see coming.

All of it circles back to one simple truth: the little things matter more than we think.

And yes, this has been Friday’s w/ Dan.

https://open.spotify.com/show/2ZHWgVJf5Dadq6c1jHFrNC?si=992fe885fff64cde

http://www.youtube.com/@DanBackes-Omaha

https://podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/1768323039635344d43bab5cf

Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:00

Hey everyone, welcome back to Fridays with Dan. I hope your week's been good, and if you celebrated St. Patrick's Day, I hope you did it with something a little more meaningful than green food coloring. I always love this time of year because the real story of St. Patrick is so different from the parades and shamrocks. He wasn't even Irish. He wasn't flashy. He didn't chase attention. He just lived a life of quiet faithfulness, showing up for people, doing the small things well, and trusting that they mattered. And honestly, that idea has been following me around all week. I've had a few moments in sports, in my podcast, and in my own family, that reminded me how powerful the little things can be when they're done with heart. So today so today we're going to talk about a freshman who played the game the right way. Simple inscription that meant more than a sender probably realized, and a moment with my sister that caught me off guard in the best way. So let's get into it. So speaking of St. Patrick's Day, I'm reminded that what most of us do to celebrate has absolutely nothing to do with the actual St. Patrick. The real Patrick wasn't Irish. He didn't chase fame, he didn't dye rivers green, he didn't even eat corned beef. That was invented in New York. Patrick was a former slave. He went back to the very place he was taken from. Not for revenge, but to serve people. He spent his life doing quiet, faithful work that didn't make headlines. Meanwhile, my St. Patrick's Day celebration this year consisted of watching March Madness, eating pizza rolls, and celebrating my dog Finn's third birthday. So shout out, Finn. Happy birthday, buddy. Uh it honestly feels spiritually accurate. Patrick did the humble work and I microwaved humble food. But even in that, the basketball, the simple meal, the little family moment, I kept thinking about how St. Patrick's story is really about showing up in the small things, being faithful where you are, doing the work that doesn't always get applause. And that idea ended up weaving through my whole week. And speaking of showing up for the small things, I've got to talk about Wichita State for a minute. Because for me, it's not just a team, it's part of my DNA. When I was in college, I went to every single home basketball game. Every one. Kokarina was basically my second home. And when we made that final four run in 2013, we didn't fly. We didn't book a quick trip. We drove from Wichita to Atlanta. And if you've never made that drive, let me tell you, it's a commitment. That's not a casual fan move. That's a this program is in my bloodstream kind of decision. So when I watched our NIT game this week, it wasn't background noise, it meant something. Our best player was off. Wyoming had him locked down, and the whole game felt like it needed someone to do the unglamorous work. And then TJ Williams, a 6'5 guard out of Wichita Heights, checks in and plays the game the way I was taught to play it. Tough defense, real box outs, fighting for position, 14 rebounds as a guard. That's not luck, that's grit, that's pride, and that's a kid who understands the assignment. So he, like I said, he ended up with 17 points and 14 boards in only 18 minutes of play. That's not a stat line, that's a statement. The only thing I didn't love was the one for five at the free throw line. But honestly, that just made me like him more. It reminded me of every teammate I ever had who did all the hard stuff right and then just clanks the freebies. It's human, it's real, and it means he's got room to grow, which is exactly what being a freshman is about. But what moved me wasn't about the numbers, it was the pride. The way he stepped up when the team needed someone to do the little things. The things that don't make highlight reels, but win possessions, win respect, and win games. So watching TJ felt like watching the version of basketball I grew up with, the version that teaches you character long before it teaches you scoring. And then there was a moment earlier in the week that honestly caught me off guard. I got a package in the mail from Dr. Carolyn Crocker. She was one of my recent podcast guests. I knew she was sending me her book, and I paid her for the shipping, so I figured it would just show up like any other package. But when I opened it, she had signed the front page, and simply it said to Dan, Podcast Host Extraordinaire, Carolyn. And I'm not gonna lie, that made me tear up a little bit. Because she didn't have to do that. She didn't owe me anything. She didn't need to go out of her way to write something kind or personal, but she did. And it wasn't the word extraordinaire that got me, although let's be honest, that's a pretty cool word to see next to your name. It was the gesture, the simplicity, and the sincerity. Because I put a lot of work into my podcast. Hours of prep reading, listening, shaping questions, trying to create a space where people feel safe and respected and heard. Most of that work is invisible. Nobody sees it. Nobody claps for it. So when someone like Carolyn, someone who's spoken all over the world, someone who's been interviewed by countless people takes the time to say, Hey, I noticed what you did and it mattered. That hits a little bit different. It was just this little quiet reminder that faithfulness in the small things doesn't go unnoticed, that showing up with care and intention actually leaves an imprint on people. And that sometimes the simplest gestures carry the most weight. And so the last thing that really stood out to me this week was something my sister asked me the other night. She asked if I would be an usher at her wedding. So I'm already playing Canon and D when she walks down the aisle with dad, which I'm still a little bit terrified about, as it's a pretty stakes moment. Uh so that alone is an honor. And uh and then she asked me to be an usher too. And on paper, that might sound like a small thing, like, oh, you're just seating people. But it didn't feel small. It felt like she was saying, I want you woven into the fabric of this day. I want you to be a part of the welcome, part of the heartbeat, part of the way people experience this moment in our family. And has her big brother, seven years older, practically helped raise her. That hit me really hard. Because you spend your whole life trying to protect your little sister, trying to show up for her, trying to be steady for her. And then one day she turns to you and says, Hey, I trust you with this. I want you here, doing this with me. It was a quiet, beautiful reminder that the relationships we invest in, the ones we show up for in the small everyday ways, they grow into these moments of deep honor. Moments where someone you love looks at you and says, You matter to me. I want you close. And that meant more to me than she probably will ever realize. So after all of this, the basketball game, the book, my sister, it kept bringing me back to one verse this week. It's simple, it's one of those lines that just sits with you. So I'm going to read from Luke chapter 16, verse 10. Whoever is faithful with little will also be faithful with much. That's been echoing in my mind because none of these moments that moved me this week were big, flashy, headlight moments. They were small, quiet, easy to overlook if you're not paying attention. A freshman doing the dirty work on the court, a handwritten note in the front of a book, a sister asking her brother to help welcome people on her wedding day. None of those things are allowed. None of them are glamorous, but they're meaningful. They're the kinds of moments where character shows up, where love shows up, where faithfulness shows up. And I think that's what Jesus was getting at, that the way we handle the small things, the unseen things, the everyday things, that's what shapes who we become. That's what prepares us for the bigger things when they inevitably come. So this this week was just a reminder that the little things matter more than we think. So let us pray. God, I thank you for the small moments this week that reminded me what faithfulness really looks like. Thank you for the people who showed up with kindness, with trust, with quiet encouragement. Help us to be the kind of people who honor the little things, the unseen work, the everyday choices, the chances to serve without needing attention. Teach us to show up with integrity, to love well, and to recognize the gifts you place in front of us, even when they come in simple forms. Give us steady hearts, grateful spirits, and the wisdom to see your hand in the ordinary. Amen. So thank you everyone for spending a part of your day with me. As always, take care of yourselves, take care of each other, be there for the small things, and I'll see you next time on Fridays with Dan.