Do You Have a Team?

It’s football playoff time. Whether you watch the NFL or not, you are probably aware that the Super Bowl is approaching.

It occurs to me that no quarterback—even Brett Favre—goes to the Super Bowl without his whole team. He needs the offensive line to protect him, the running backs to hand the ball to, and the receivers to catch the long bombs. Of course, the coaches provide the overall strategy and training, “encourage” the conditioning and practice between games, and celebrate the successes along with the players. Then there are the trainers, the water boys, the people who get the uniforms ready, and on and on.

If you’re not into football, consider the challenge of climbing Mount Everest. Do you realize that, to climb to the top of the world’s highest mountain, you need a team of sherpas, guides, and other support people at least double the number of climbers? Many adventure trek companies will provide one Sherpa per climber just to carry your extra oxygen for the ascent to the summit.

So maybe you don’t care about football and have no intention of climbing Mount Everest. But whether you're a writer, a speaker, a stay-at-home mom, or working toward any other goal, some days those efforts can seem as daunting as climbing a 20,000-foot mountain.

That’s why you need a team. Surround yourself with friends who share your goal and your faith. They will cheer you on, encourage you in your “conditioning” and persistence, and celebrate your successes with you. And, in turn, you can do the same for them.

He encouraged them with these words: "Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or discouraged" (2 Chronicles 32:6-7, NIV).

It's Only a Game

It’s been one week since Super Bowl XLIII.

The general consensus is that this year’s game was one of the best in recent memory. Around here, at least, few people cared strongly who won or lost, even though we might have rooted for one team or the other.

When it was all over, I overheard the comment, “It’s only a game.”

Lots of people would argue with that, of course. To some, the Super Bowl is the Game of the Year. To others, the World Series or the Final Four carry much more importance.

What’s really difficult, I think, is to take that approach with life. Especially now, with business closings, job losses, retirement funds tanking, and on and on.

I don’t mean that those things are not serious and even discouraging. Basically, I want to stick my head in the sand and come out when it’s all better.

But I keep reminding myself that these are only things. Jesus cautioned, “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also (Matthew 6: 19-21, NIV).”

When I start to take life too seriously, that’s the verse I want to remember. Making a difference in the lives of other people is really what this game is all about.