Just sit in the boat

Again Jesus began to teach by the lake. The crowd that gathered around him was so large that he got into a boat and sat in it out on the lake, while all the people were along the shore at the water’s edge. Mark 4:1

As football teams get closer to the end of the regular season and closer to the play-off time of year, the distracting noises always increase.  There is talk of possible play-off scenarios, future opponents, and constant planning for events that may not even occur. The intensity of the game increases as does the trash talk from fans and the tempers of most coaches.  Region championships and paths to a state championship are on the line in each game. The players are hearing about how good they are from their friends and family and the opposing fans are always a little more obnoxious. According to the fans, the coaches have suddenly forgotten how to coach, the referees are always plotting against their team, and they know exactly the correct play that should have been called.  All of this comes together to create a lot of extra noise that can be easily distracting to the players.  

As a football coach, I have to block out the noise.  It could come in the form of a parent complaint, a player who is having an issue in his life, or outside worries that are on my mind.  There is a time to deal with the issues of life but it is not during practice and certainly not during a game. I want our players to understand this as well.  It is difficult for a young man to put away his worries for a time and totally concentrate on his job as a player. We have talked a lot in the past few days about blocking out the noise around our team as we prepare for a very noisy environment on game night.  

Our game on this coming Friday has several aspects that will cause this to be a noisy environment.  Our opponent, if they were to win, will be the champions of our region. For my team, a win will mean home field advantage for the play-offs.  We would also get to ruin our opponent’s chance to be the region champion. The crowd should be large, we will be the visiting team, and emotions will be very high for all involved.  In order for our team to be successful on Friday night, we must block out the noise. There could be “trash” talk from our opponent, their crowd will be geared up to yell their team to victory, and our very own fans will have many suggestions to help us win.  There will be a lot of noise! Several times during this week we have talked about blocking out the noise but I know it is easier to say than to actually do. I have told the team, in order to truly block out the noise and distractions, we must be completely absorbed in preparing ourselves and our teammates for competition.  If each player is totally devoted to helping his teammate prepare, each young man will be too busy to notice the noise. During the game, if each young man is excited and celebrating a teammates success, there will not be any time left to hear the noise.  

I believe as Christians we also have to block out the noise.  As we go through our days, there will be people who need help with a problem, people who need a kind word, and people with a complaint.  Each of these issues crosses our path for a reason and each takes a toll on us personally. I also believe God places us on this earth to be in the middle of all the noise but, He also knows we need a break from the noise.  In Mark 4:1, Jesus has been teaching the crowd and has gotten into a boat and is sitting offshore. During Jesus’ time on the earth, he lived his life very much like each of us, with many of the same emotions. I am sure he was sitting in the boat because he needed a break from the crowd.  He had been teaching and had a full day of hearing their problems. There were probably several in the crowd with a complaint or with suggestions of how he could be a better teacher. I am sure, while sitting in the boat, he was asking his Father for guidance. He probably asked for energy to help the ones with an illness and patience to deal with the many others.  He most likely asked for wisdom to allow his Father’s words to come from his mouth when he returned to the shore to teach. He may have even taken the time away to regain his composure and remember why he was teaching. He just needed to sit in the boat for a while. Probably, while Jesus was in the boat, there were probably many who yelled to him from the shore. Jesus needed to be in the boat to block the noise and concentrate on the will of his Father.

I don’t live close to a lake and I do not own a boat, but I need to “Sit in the boat” sometimes.  I need time to get away from the voices who are asking for help or registering a complaint. I need time to refocus so my words will be my Heavenly Fathers, and not my own.  I need to block the noise so I can remember why I coach.

Chad

"Flag on the play"

So that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
2nd Timothy 3:17

In the game of football nothing is more exciting than a long touchdown pass or a long touchdown run, unless there is a penalty that negates the score. While the team is celebrating the touchdown the coaches are always looking for the yellow flag on the field. It is comforting to quickly scan the field and find no yellow flags on the ground. But there is nothing more demoralizing to a coach and the team than to hear the words, “Flag on the play”.

Without the yellow flags thrown by the referees, the games would be total chaos. As a coach, I know there is a constant battle between coaches and referees. For every call they make, one coach thinks he is brilliant and the other thinks he is the most ignorant person on the planet. But, I also know that only with the rules of the game can the players be protected from many terrible injuries. The rules allow the game to continue play after play. Without the rules, the game would stop every time one player became angry with another. And without the rules of how a player should conduct himself on the field, the young men would never learn the many difficult and valuable lessons of football. I have often found it ironic that the young men on the field, involved in an emotional and intense game, are expected to conduct themselves much more appropriately than the adults in the stands. On most Friday nights around this country, the people watching the contest, could learn many valuable lessons from the young people involved.

What if our world had people walking around, dressed in referee uniforms and throwing yellow flags for each inappropriate action, word, or thought? In those moments, when someone is stretching the truth about themselves to impress a potential employer, the referee could throw the flag at them. He would announce in front of everyone, “Personal foul. Making yourself sound better than you really are! 15 yard penalty and loss of job”. What if every time an inappropriate word came from our mouths or while we were gossiping about someone, a yellow flag was thrown? The referee would say, “Trying to make yourself look good by tearing someone else down! 15 yard penalty and loss of respect”. Worst of all, what if a yellow flag was thrown at us for each thought we allowed to dwell in our mind that is not pleasing to God? I am afraid the referee would hurt his shoulder throwing so many flags at me!

The young men on the field on Friday nights, have within them, the mental toughness, emotional control, and the discipline to play the game and represent themselves according to the rules. They have been equipped with these tools and because of them, they are capable of playing the game of football. The players who do not possess these skills usually find themselves on the sidelines. As Christians, we are also thoroughly equipped with the skills and strengths necessary to live each moment for our Lord and Savior. Sure, there will always be those moments and situations in life that cause us to become angry, lose our temper, or say things we regret later. But, just like the football player who has to play an emotional game without allowing his emotions to control his actions, we also have to do the same in our lives. In those moments when all around us are becoming angry, reacting inappropriately to a situation, or allowing selfish desires to control their actions, we have to step back and ask God how He wants His Son to be revealed through us. I believe God uses every moment of our lives, both big and small, to teach us to trust Him more, how to show His Son more in our lives, and to draw someone closer to Him. When we look at our lives as thousands of tiny moments, created by Him, we begin to respond to people in a better way. We are equipped with everything we need for every moment of our lives.


Chad