I know it’s July, which means we’re halfway through 2024, but I had been taking a break from socials and pretty much everything associated with the internet. Yet life carried on, and like every year (outside of 2023, ironically), I sought the Lord and asked for a word for the year. After prayer, pondering, and thought, BREATH(E) hit me. I thought it might be encouraging to share here. So here you go, my one word for 2024, which will be something that carries on past 2024 for sure.

I hate running (yet I do it). It has always seemed a bit masochistic. Just the thought of running long distances for fun still feels so foreign to me.

I prefer sprinting. But you can’t sprint nonstop.

As I look back at 2023 and much of my life, I’ve done my damnedest to sprint nonstop. I’ve had little to no room to breathe; I’ve been short of breath.

I couldn’t breathe.

I often felt like my lungs were being squeezed, and I was in a panic for a deep breath.

In 2024, I’m asking for God to breathe the breath of life into my soul, heart, dreams, and my very being after a season, and year, that was marked by endings, and to a degree death. (Job 33:4, Isaiah 42:5, Acts 17:25)

Lord, as you formed Adam from the dust and breathed the breath of life into his lungs, I pray you sculpt from the dust of my dreams and life that is left a new dream and a new vision, then Lord blow breath into it. Bring new life. (Gen. 2:7)

There were moments in 2023 where it was a win to get out of bed; the dreams that died left me paralyzed, and I felt like dry bones left. So “breathe” for me is also a one-word prayer, asking the Spirit to blow his breath into what feels like the dead bones of my soul and dreams, bringing life and hope, that even though I feel slain, there indeed will be life from this. (Ezekiel 37:9-10)

Breath(e) symbolizes space. Space for the fire to burn and grow. For too long I didn’t have space for the fire to burn and for sure not grow. I just shoved more kindling into the space, leaving the fire no space to breathe. Lord, let the fire in me grow, now that I have space. Space to breathe. Space to hear. Space to dream. Space to give my family a fully present dad and husband. Breath is space.

I sit in the space I have now, and John’s words come to mind when Jesus breathed on his disciples and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.” I have the space to sit and hear you, Jesus, like never before. The space to receive a fresh breath of the Holy Spirit. (John 20:21–22)

Here I am.

I await your breath.

As I read in the Bible, I see lots of contrasting last breaths. I ask myself, “What would I want my last breath to be?”

This might be a word for 2024, but it’s a declaration for the next chapter of life and until that last breath, that I would live and breathe differently than the first 40 years. May my next 40 or so years, Lord-willing, be different because of this year’s one word of BREATH(E). (Gen. 25:8, John 19:30; contrast to a poor last breath – Acts 5:5 & 10, Acts 12:23)

…THAT I DO HAVE FUN OUT THERE!

I’ve never been short on intensity and pushing hard to be better and try to bring the best out of others too. Sometimes even for me it is too much. ?

It seems like every day I’m fighting the frustration, pressure, disappointment, let downs, the mountain of average and apathy. I’ve tried to work hard to not let these things be the last 18 months, yet these words sum up so much of the battle in my heart, soul and mind from the start of the pandemic and even in the past few weeks. ?

Even in the midst of battling through this again last week, as we prepped for our first home game in 750 days, I had my moments of joy.?

Seeing my players compete.?
Seeing my player overcome adversity.?
Seeing players that should be in a jersey, but do to roster limitations have to watch, be selfless for their teammates.?
Seeing my little boys throwing the football on the side of the field and then running and tackling me after the game.

This Monday, while I still have those frustrations, let downs, nonsense and etc. I’m choosing to cling to the joy. Choosing to keep battling against all that junk with joy and also trying to not take myself too serious! ??

Thanks Jakub for this pic and Josef for the energy drink!

I wrote this last month before Easter but did’t have a chance to finish it.  Today as I’m at my computer striving to get through a ton of work while trying to sort out thoughts and decisions, I needed to be reminded of this.  We are going on two months of – waiting.  We are all waiting.  When we start to make plans, everything changes and we continue to sit and wait.  

As I’ve followed my own heart, how I’ve waited has varied drastically, from being still and calm to panicked and  tightness in my chest.  I’ve also experienced every feeling between those two extremes, but yet I wait.  Yet we wait.  

Waiting to have stay at home orders loosened.

Waiting to see if the decisions made will cause a second wave that will force us back into stay at home orders.

Waiting for the good news of a vaccine or something tangible.  

Waiting for people to make wise decisions and think of others.

Waiting.  

Throughout these two months of #LifeInQuarantine I’ve been encouraged by Easter and the Resurrection.  I like to put myself in the shoes of people in the Bible to try to imagine what life for them was like.  There’s lots of waiting moments throughout the Bible.  The moment that I come back to more than ever is the time between Jesus’ burial and resurrection.  

Imagine being one of Jesus’ disciples on good Friday, then on Saturday.

Imagine how they felt.  They gave up everything to follow him and what did it end with?

Their “savior” being crucified, hanging on a cross and cursed.

They were devastated, confused and desperate.

They grieved beyond belief.

They were scared, hiding out hoping the same fate didn’t wait for them.

They waited.  

I’ve sat in this story more times in my life and tried to imagine being them, even though I now know the outcome, they didn’t.  I imagine the way they felt is, to a significantly greater degree much like I’ve felt over this time.

Then I ask the what came from this all?  What did God do?  

This is what gives me hope.

From death came LIFE.

From ugliness came BEAUTY.

From betrayal, confusions and doubt came DEVOTION, CERTAINTY and FAITH.

I needed to sit in this once again today and be reminded of what God can do.  He can do more than we can imagine! 

“But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare.” Jeremiah 29:7

•••

If you know Míša and I well, you have heard us talk about Jeremiah 29 in the context of our larger calling to Prague and Czech.  Verses 4-7 are the verses that God has used to call us here and make decisions on how we will live here and serve here.  These verses, their truths and how God has used them in our lives is changing a bit in light of our current situation.  

Over the next few days I’m going to share some thoughts from these verses, and how God is using them in our lives now through the nationwide quarantine that Czech is going through and how God is speaking to me and us as a family through this.  As I’ve been pondering, reading and studying these verses, I’ve encountered some big questions, even existential questions, and some things that I’m even uncomfortable with.  That is a good thing.  God is in those questions and uncomfortable feelings.  

As I’ve read about this virus and seen the numbers, never did I think that me seeking the welfare of Prague and her citizens would mean that I need to self-quarantine and be mindful when I’m outside about how I interact with people.  I never would have thought this in a million years, but the more I read, learn and think about this, one of the best ways I can seek the peace of Prague, and her welfare in the midst of a very contagious virus is to stay home or being very careful if we have to go out.  Because my interactions with one person can springboard into infection in ways that I can’t imagine.  

So please, before you just blow off the idea of wearing a mask, or wearing gloves, or staying home, or trying to limit physical contact with others, think about others.  You are actually pursuing others’ welfare, your welfare, the welfare of your family and the families of each person you could meet.  I still don’t have a box for this, but it’s something that is wise, considerate and even loving!  Not trying to be preachy, just wanting to share my thoughts of what God is teaching me!  Be safe.  Be smart.  Be considerate.  Be healthy.

#ThoughtsFromQuarantine #Quarantined #PrayForThisGreatCity #Chase2020 #teamHARROD #BringOn2020 #Prague #Praha #harrodovi??praha

Today was supposed to be our KICKOFF GAME.  

Instead of coaching, I disinfected groceries and then our whole flat.  It’s amazing what change can come in a couple of weeks.  In place of game planning this week, I was on the phone with the US Embassy and State Department trying to learn when was too late to get our coach home.  Nothing could have prepared any of us for the tidal wave that hit in this virus.  

I think I’m in the phase of grieving because here’s some truths about what was the 2020 season…

…there had never been more work put in collectively to our game day experience.

…there had never been this much work done building partnerships and new sponsorships, that would have allowed us to raise the level of the Lions this year, as well into the future.

…I personally have never had this talented of a team, combining our Czech core, adding new Czechs to our pride, adding other key EU guys to our team and of course picking up a group of Americans.

…this was the best offseason for our core here in Prague, our coaching team put together a great offseason schedule, plan and scheme.

…throughout the offseason our leadership council met regularly, and was taking ownership of the team more deeply than others have in the past.

…our three weeks of practice outside and our training camp had the highest attendance of all of the preseasons I had been part of here.

…I have yet to experience the atmosphere at each practice that I witnessed this year.  

…we have a growing media team that is far larger than at any time in the Lions’ past.

…our coaching staff was larger and on the same page more than any season I’ve been part of here.

That’s just the start.  Football is a sport that can change quickly based on injuries, momentum and the like.  It’s unpredictable.  That’s why good coaches pour over the details and work so hard to build a culture, to address the unpredictability.

Nobody gives you a trophy for a great offseason, all the hard work from September to March or your team atmosphere. They give it to you at the end of the season, when 8 million little things came together.  But man in by bones I felt this was a special team like you’ve never seen #LIONation!

There’s no telling what will come this week, or even the next week, or anytime soon.  Right now there are things MUCH BIGGER THAN FOOTBALL that we all need to be focusing on.  Be safe. Make sure you families are safe!  Support our local partners and sponsors through this time.  When we come back, we will need your support like never before #LIONation.  I can’t wait, but until then focus on those BIGGER things!  WE GOT THIS PRAGUE!

Dnes bychom hráli úvodní zápas letošní sezóny.

Místo trénování jsem však dezinfikoval potraviny a poté celý náš byt. Je podivuhodné, kolik v?cí se m?že za pár týdn? zm?nit. Místo plánování zápasu jsem celý týden strávil na telefonu s velvyslanectvím USA, abych zjistil, kdy nejpozd?ji m?žeme dostat našeho amerického trenéra zpátky dom?. Nic nás nemohlo p?ipravit na p?ívalovou vlnu, která nás v podob? tohoto viru zasáhla.

Myslím, že jsem momentáln? ve fázi truchlení, protože toto jsou n?která fakta o sezón? 2020…

… nikdy p?edtím jsme nev?novali tolik úsilí do toho, aby byly naše zápasy co nejlepším zážitkem pro všechny diváky.

… nikdy p?edtím jsme nev?novali tolik úsilí budování partnerství a hledání sponzor?, abychom mohli pozvednout úrove? Lions nejen letos, ale i s výhledem do budoucna.

… osobn? jsem nikdy nem?l takto talentovaný tým, který kombinoval naše jádro ?eských hrá??, nov? p?íchozí ?eské hrá?e, další klí?ové hrá?e z Evropy a samoz?ejm? také skupinu amerických hrá??.

… pro naše ?eské jádro to byla nejlepší offseason p?íprava – náš trenérský tým dal dohromady výborný rozpis, plán a schéma.

… v pr?b?hu offseason se pravideln? scházel i náš “leadership council” – skupina zkušených hrá??, lídr? – který se ú?astnil rozhodnutí v týmu mnohem více než v p?edchozích letech.

… t?i týdny venkovních trénink? a soust?ed?ní m?ly nejlepší docházku za všechny uplynulé offseason, a to za tu dobu co tu jsem (již více než 16 let)

… takovou atmosféru na každém tréninku, jako jsme m?li tento rok, jsem ješt? nezažil.

… máme rostoucí Media Team, zatím nejv?tší, jaký jsme kdy m?li.

… náš trenérský tým byl nejv?tší a nejvíce slad?ný (za tu dobu co tu jsem).

Tohle je jen za?átek. Fotbal je sport, který se kv?li zran?ním a dalším okolnostem m?že rychle m?nit. Je nep?edvídatelný. To je d?vod, pro? dob?í trené?i dbají o každý detail, který jim m?že pomoci budovat kulturu v týmu – aby tým mohl bojovat i s tím, co je nep?edvídatelné.

Nikdo Vám nedá trofej za skv?lou offseason, tvrdou d?inu od zá?í do b?ezna, nebo za atmosféru v týmu. Dají Vám ji až na konci sezóny, když Vám vyjde asi 8 milión? mali?kostí. Ale v kostech jsem cítil, že tento letošní tým byl speciální. Takový, jaký jste ješt? nevid?li, #LIONation!

Nikdo neví, co se stane tento nebo p?íští týden, ani co se stane v n?kolika nadcházejících týdnech. Momentáln? se musíme soust?edit na v?ci, které jsou mnohem v?tší než fotbal. Bu?te v bezpe?í a ujist?te se, že i Vaše rodiny jsou v bezpe?í! Podporujte v t?chto t?žkých ?asech naše místní partnery a sponzory. Až se vrátíme, budeme vaši podporu pot?ebovat mnohem více, než p?edtím, #LIONation. Nemohu se do?kat, ale do té doby se musíme soust?edit na d?ležit?jší v?ci. SPOLE?N? TO ZVLÁDNEME!

teamHARROD Advent Blessing 2019 from Zach Harrod on Vimeo.

Over the last few months we have prayed and thought about what we could do to help our support at the end of he year, and as result we wanted to try something new this year – teamHARROD ADVENT BLESSING. 

This year Míša, the boys and I would love ask you to prayerfully consider blessing us like never before.  So in the build up to Christmas, would you commit to praying for us each of those days?  In a place like Prague, where rates of atheism, as well as depression, alcoholism and addiction in general are so high, we desperately need people praying for us and this place we call home.

The other part of the teamHARROD ADVENT BLESSING is helping meet our financial needs going into 2020 – $1500 of additional monthly support (ideally $2000/month), and $10,000 in one-time giving for special projects (including sending guys two the States, where we have seen lives changed!).  We are also praying that God would provide $20,000 to help us get a van that would serve both our ministry and our growing family.

There is so much we want to achieve this coming year! We would like to have new partners for sure, but as we have thought and prayed, we realized that maybe God has provided the people that can help us meet our goals.  With that said we are inviting 20 of our faithful monthly givers to increase, so that together, we can see God continue to draw Czechs to Himself in 2020!  

Would you consider being one of these 20 faithful monthly givers to increase your monthly support?  Or are you someone who has been receiving our prayer letters for some time and would like to join our monthly team that helps us in the day-to-day?  Or do you know someone that might want to join us?

What this ADVENT BLESSING looks like for us is to meet our ideal monthly goal of raising an additional $2000/monthly support in the 25 days before Christmas. That’s an increase or new monthly commitment of $80 each day of the 25 days to Christmas.  We realize that someone might increase their monthly gift from $25 to $50/monthly and another could come on at $100/monthly right away.  The options are limitless and we are trusting God in this.  We would also like to celebrate by posting new commitments to social media.  We would to this by dropping a heart into that day and the amount committed, your name wouldn’t be shared. Would you prayerfully consider being part of this blessing?  

If you would please drop me a message right away about giving, we’d love to talk to you more about the specifics.  Thank you in advance!  

OR GIVE ON-LINE RIGHT NOW, CLICK HERE.