We actually played

Last night, Matthew and I went with Steven (one of my students) to Buffalo Wild Wings to watch the start of the NFL season and enjoy some 60-cent boneless wings.

Whenever Matthew goes to BW's with me, it usually involves playing some trivia while eating wings and watching some sporting event. This night was no different. True to form, as soon as the server came over, Matthew asked for the Buzztime unit.

Shortly after we got there, it was time for a new game to start. The game we begin to play is called "Six." I had never played it before, but quickly realized it resembles Trivia Pursuit in terms of content. There are six categories from which your questions come. There are a number of rounds that play out in various ways. I won't bore you with all of the details of the game. If you're really interested, visit the website to learn more.

Anyway, time to get to the point of the story. As we play on, I realize we're doing pretty well. We even answered all eighteen questions right in the "Marathon" round. As we finish the game, Matthew celebrates as the screen announces that we are the champions for this location.

But nothing could prepare Matthew for the next thing that comes up on the screen. It ends up that we are ranked 18th in the entire nation for the game. When the list of the top 20 scores from every location in the US shows up, there we are at number 18.

As we leave the place and begin our trip home, I get a text message from my wife asking where we are. She had just gotten home from a meeting and wondered why her 9-year-old son was not home and in bed at 10:05pm. Being the quick thinker I am, I hand the phone to Matthew and tell him to share with his mom our victory. Not bad thinking, eh? ;-)

After he hands the phone back to me, I hear Matthew from the back. "This is better than watching the Steelers win their 6th Super Bowl!"

Being the Steelers fan that I am (Matthew is a pretty big fan as well), I respond, "Really?"

The next words he speaks are still echoing in my mind. "Yes, because we actually played instead of watching someone else do it."

Profound words from the mouth of a young boy.

How often do we invest more energy, passion, and excitement in the accomplishments of an athlete, celebrity, and other professionals?

As I continue to reflect on his words, I wonder what the implications are for the church. Do we invest more energy in the words of a preacher than in our own abilities to speak love to others? Do we have more passion about a youth minister than pouring our own lives into those of our young people? Do we get more excited about a church program than starting our own ministry?

Don't misunderstand. I enjoy speaking and see a lot of value in doing it with quality. I love serving teenagers and their families. My role includes developing and carrying out quality programs. There is certainly importance for all of these things in a church community. But, what happens when that becomes the most important part of someone's spiritual identity? What are the implications for their spiritual development? What does all of that mean for the growth of the Kingdom of God?

Matthew reminded me of an important key to life. Accomplishments mean a lot more when we are intimately involved. Sure, I celebrated when the Steelers won their sixth Super Bowl a few years ago. But, Matthew is right. He, Steven, and I worked together to end up ranked 18th in the nation. No, it's not a Super Bowl trophy. True, the only people that know are probably those of you reading this blog. But, isn't Kingdom work often the same way?

There are people who serve and never get any recognition. The apostle Paul wrote, "The eye cannot say to the hand, 'I have no need of you,' nor again the head to the feet, 'I have no need of you.' On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and on those parts of the body that we think less honorable we bestow the greater honor, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty, which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together. Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it." (1 Corinthians 12:21-27)

To borrow another quote from the great theologians at Nike, "Just do it." In the Kingdom of God, we are broken people serving a world full of broken people. The greatest tragedy is not failure, but rather, the failure to try. As a cracked jar of clay, I would rather risk another crack than simply sit on a shelf and watch another, better-looking jar carry the water for me.

shine!
Jason