The A Team
I loved being on the A Team. I started playing basketball at a very young age on a cement slab outside our garage. The hoop was store bought but the backboard had been fashioned by my father from a piece of plywood. The target was hand painted red and if you looked closely at it you could see that masking tape had been used to define the lines. I spent hours on that slab, playing “horse” with my brothers and imaging the games I would play in.
I attended a small school. By the end of my 7th grade season I was a starter on the High School B team. In 8th grade I was an A team starter which continued throughout my high school career.
The A team – I smiled the sound of it. I expected to play the entire game no matter who we went up against. Bench warming was not for me! If I landed on the bench I couldn’t wait to get put back on the floor.
Life changed and basketball become a distant memory. The thought of being on the A team seemed to disappear as well. So, when I have been challenged with the opportunity of service, somehow stepping back and being a bench warmer became appealing. Thoughts flowed through my mind such as:
Let others take on serving, they are better at it.
If I don’t do it, someone else will get it done.
They don’t need me, I am not going to contribute much anyway.
What happened to being on the A Team and being anxious to get off the bench? Why was I allowing these ideas to justify stepping back?
There were excuses as well:
I am too busy.
I gave financially already.
I am not comfortable in a service settings.
I do other things behind the scene.
But when I look deep, way down to the depths I realized there was just one reason I was settling for bench warming:
Fear
I am an introvert. At my core, I am afraid to talk to people and ever more so people I do not know. It takes energy, prayer and much positive self talk to engage in such conversations. God made me this way and He knows the struggle is real. Yet, Jesus’s example and direction to us has no pre-qualifiers such as “This is for the extroverts.” or “If you don’t think you are needed or gifted then this is not for you.” No, His example is and the Biblical instructions are for all of us.
Jesus told us clearly that He, the Lord of the universe, creator of heaven and earth, came to serve, “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.” Mark 10:45
Then Peter shares these words in I Peter, “Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.” I Peter 4:10
Why do you thinks this is a call for all of us? I have thought about it often. Maybe it is because as a foot-dragging, energy-zapped introvert, serving brings a strong sense of satisfaction and joy after the event. It may be even more satisfying and joy bring to us introverts because of our dependence on God to get it done!
I don’t know. What I do know is that often when I don’t want to or I fear doing something, it is exactly when I should be doing it because it’s the right thing to do.
My husband shared a story with me recently that nailed it. Recently he walked into the bed room and noticed a piece of paper on the floor. His first thought was to ignore it and leave it on the floor. His second thought was that his wife would pick it up later and his third thought was to bend over and pick it up because it’s the right thing to do!!
What my husband knows is that when it’s the right thing to do, feel like it or not, just do it anyway! And God knows it is necessary for us to serve to fill our hearts with joy especially when we are fearful or don’t feel like it!
What is it for you?
Are you missing out on being on the A team?
Are you an introvert?
Do you just need do the right thing?
God has got you! Set aside any fears or excuses and sign up for a serving for a project on Leave Your Seat Sunday at The Church at Severn Run. Click here to see the options available, get answers to your questions and sign up. Don’t live near Severn Run? Step out and find local opportunities to serve God in your own commuity. Whatever you do, you will find out how God can fill you with satisfaction and joy in serving others.
JW