This summer I was in a leadership position of a church softball league. It consisted of 13 teams from various evangelical churches from around "the region." This league has been going on for many years and it is very typical of many other Christian sporting leagues.
Many times when dealing with problems this year I heard the phrase but this is a Christian league. As I began to hear this over and over again, I began to think about what this really means. The people who would bring this up meant a couple of different things. 1. It should be a family friendly enviornment, there shouldn't be cussing, and drinking. 2. It should be moral- there shouldn't be any fighting or dirty play. But is that the essence of sticking the name Christian in front of a sporting league?
I have been playing in church league sports since I was 12, and there really isn't too much of a difference between church leagues city or beer league sports, except there is more whinning in church leagues.
This may come as a suprise but church leagues are made up of people just as the city and beer leagues are. The difference shouldn't be a suprise that all of the people mess up aren't perfect or occassionally lose their temper. I unfortunately have in my share of sporting events.
The diffference may seem in the beginning when the teams pray, but most of the prayers are for good attitudes and no injuries. I would think in general most people who don't follow Jesus woud want the same things.
As I thought about this quite a bit this summer. I realized that the difference in a church league is the response. The response when we are frustrated, angry, feel slighted, know someone else was wrong. This is where a church league can be different. It can be a place where forgiveness is given and recieved. Where people understand that have been forgiven much so they can forgive much.
This isn't just about church league sports but about life. There are many different facets and parts of faith, but one is what is my response when I have been wronged, when life has given me the short end of the stick?
Bitterness can feel like such a good companion. Last week I went to a baseball game with a friend of mine and his twelve year old son. The son plays and loves baseball the three of us talked the whole trip of our baseball playing experiences. It was a great time but when I got home that feeling of bitterness crept in why can't I have those times with Kyle like this?
Anger resentment and bitterness can be our natural reaction if let it. After a few minutes of thinking of those thoughts I realized that this isn't what it is about. Why do I get so hung up on the few little negatives in life and not all the gifts that God has given me?
When an umpire makes a bad call I have a choice I can throw a fit (which I have done) or I can move on and continue to play. The same is true with each choice I make in life, the things I can't control do I throw a fit or do I continue to do the things God has asked me to do?
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