I’m Not Athletic

I recently read Bleachers by John Grisham. It’s about a coach that builds winning teams with some steep prices and sacrifices. I enjoyed the book, despite the fact that I am not athletic.

Once I was in a restaurant where rolls are thrown. A friend asked me to throw him a roll. I said I would not. He insisted that I throw him a roll. Reluctantly, I threw the roll. The roll ended up with his glass of tea on his lap. I’m not athletic.

My five-year old niece insisted that I throw her a softball outdoors. I knew this could not turn out well. She was excited as I made the throw. She was in tears when it hit her in the head. I’m not very athletic.

In college, my roommate and I were given two free tickets to watch Auburn play Maryland. We decided to drive down from LaGrange to Auburn to watch my first college football game. When the folks next to me would stand, I would stand. Halfway through the game, I realized the lady next to me was cheering for Maryland; I thought I had been cheering with her for Auburn.

Nevertheless, and despite my limited ability to engage in this spectator sport, I enjoyed the game and enjoyed the conversation with the lady seated next to me. Interestingly, she was originally from Monticello, and at that time, living in Maryland. We talked about our hometown.

Who would have ever guessed two Jasperites would have ended up seated next to each other at an Auburn-Maryland game.

Ten years later, I attended an NFL football game in Kansas City on Christmas Eve. It was brutally cold. My boney body felt as if it would never warm again. I finally did thaw around May of the following year.

I do like to be a part of winning teams. For me, the winning team is the team of Jesus. The folks on Jesus’ team have been saved, and blessed with the gift of eternal life. It is the team I desire to be on. It’s strenuous work to be on Jesus team, but know the most important game of all you will win because Jesus is your prized coach taking you all the way to state, or in this case, to Heaven.

I challenge all of you who are so committed to sports—high school, college, NFL—who are willing to do anything to support these teams with your presence, to step forward with an equal or larger passion for the Lord Jesus Christ, by living a life that reflects Christ in your life and by reaching out to others and inviting them into a personal relationship with the Lord. You can do it. I know you can.

Our children and our youth need godly men and women at this critical time in their lives and in our lives. Cheer for the Purple! Cheer for the Blue! Cheer for the Red! Cheer for the Gold! I don’t care! Just make sure you cheer for the Lord and for what he has done and is doing in your life.