Team

Summer football practice is under way. I love it. It is so much fun having the opportunity to get back on the field. There are so many things I love about it. I just love football, what a great game. I love team-based sports. Team sports teach so many invaluable life lessons. In fact I would go as far to say that the lessons learned through team sports cannot be learned elsewhere.

I walked into the high school Tuesday evening as we were preparing for a 7 on 7 passing tournament. The smell of the hallway in the summer brought back so many memories of summer practice, two-a-days, hell week, weightlifting, ... I just cannot say how excited I am to be back involved with football.

The other aspect is coaching. Coaching has become something that I get really excited about. There is a special bond between the coach and the player. A great coach can take a player to a new level of competition.

It is very interesting how much the coaching and team aspects have crossed over into the church and business world. So many "Monday morning quarterbacks" think they know team just because they think they know sports. In fact many consider themselves coaches or leaders that have no business leading or coaching. A coach was once a player, a leader is a learner (being taught). Too many self appointed leaders think they have nothing more to learn. Too many self appointed coaches have no idea what they are doing. You must be willing to be part of a team to be able to be a coach. You must be humble enough to continue learning to be a great leader. NOT everyone is a leader! NOT everyone is a coach!

At this point in my pastoral ministry I am so much more aware of the absolute necessity of a tight-knit team. I am so frustrated with lazy team members that won't pull their weight. There are no victims on the team. A true team member takes responsibility for their involvement or lack of involvement. A true team member puts the team before their self. A true team player seeks relationship between the other team members. A true team player give it their all. If you are not willing to go the distance then get OFF the field and quit wasting time and screwing things up.

Coaches have some of the best one liners, the one I will leave you with...
Leave it all on the field.

Whatever field you are in love it! Leaving it all on the field means that you give it your all, you have done your best. You know that you could not have done one more thing. I challenge you to leave it all on the field. If you cannot do that it is time to re-evaluate what you are doing and where you are doing it.