Living The Dream

I loved playing soccer when I was in my elementary and teen years. It probably didn’t hurt that every team Iever played on was really successful. I know they say it’s not whether you win or lose; it’s how you play the game. But if you win, it’s sure a lot more fun playing the game!

But even when you are winning, there are plenty of moments of momentary loss. You go for the steal with a slide tackle, and you miss. You attempt to score, and your kick sails wide to the right. You go for the header, and the other team beats you to the punch or gets the better of you. You attempt to defend, and you get burned.

If you’ve put everything on the line, when you miss, it can mean you end up on the ground looking silly or even a little wounded. Even more, there’s a tendency to sit there for a minute nursing your wounds. But when you’re on a winning team, the rest of the team has little patience for teammates who stay down while the rest of the team tries to make up for their missing presence. Goals aren’t scored by people nursing their wounds.

Bruised knees, wounded pride, momentary dazed feelings – whatever you’re feeling, your caring teammates have one encouragement… GET OVER IT! AND GET UP!

Granted, that’s not too compassionate or tender, but it has good results. Their press and the possibility of even further wounded pride infuses you with instant inspiration to get off your butt and get moving. A wound may create a temporary limp, but the opportunity to redeem yourself can quickly cause you to forget all about the pain.

In the pursuit of anything, the chance for wounding, dazed feelings, and momentary sense of loss is common. We can lust after the success of others. We can wonder how some seem to be so capable in their walk with Christ, so impactful in using their gifts, so peaceful in their approach toward life. If you talk to them, you find they are just people who allowed God to inspire them to get back up again, and through learning more of what it means to live in His strength kept on walking. Oddly enough, it’s those bruises God uses to bring ultimate impact [1 Peter 5:6-11].

Momentary losses can knock the wind out of you… especially if you have experienced a number of them. But aside from moments of serious wounding that require surgery, getting up is actually an act of faith – staying down an act of failure.

So in the journey of the dream, let me encourage you (inspire you to courage) to:

Focus on the coach, your champion Savior Hebrews 12:1-13

Pursue the prize, the kingdom win. Philippians 3:12-16

Join up with the team, His body. 1 Corinthians 12

And… Get off your butt! Pastor Phil 1:1 and Hebrews 12:3-7

… are you still sitting there?