Perspective

The other night, my daughter had basketball try-outs.  Among those present was a coach from last year who, at the end of their final game (which they lost), told the girls on her team that, "they sucked".  In her defense (a place I never thought I'd be), she called each of the girls to apologize for her remarks.

The other night, I had forgotten all about her apologetic call to my daughter; all I was able to recall were her ugly words to a team full of girls who played to the best of their ability for her and each other.  While my daughter waited for her time to go before the line-up of this year's potential coaches, I spent my time texting my husband about how much I disliked the woman whom I continued to glare at.  He tried counseling me about what my appropriate response should have been towards the woman who didn't even know I existed.  Then, after her time to try-out was over, my daughter came back to me; I called her attention to her previous coach, and let her know about my negative feelings for the woman.  My daughter gently said to me, "Mom, she called and apologized."  My daughter possessed all the grace, knowledge, and mercy that I should have had.  My daughter's words and actions humiliated me in the best possible way.

The other night, I was thinking about what kinds of skills it takes to do well in any given area.  As we prepared for another season of practices and games, and of hectic scheduling and taxiing, I wondered about how everything was going to be accomplished.

The other night, I thought about Michael Jordan and Cynthia Ulrich Tobias.  Cynthia wrote a book called "The Way They Learn"; in it she included some information on how - depending on your perspective - Michael Jordan could be considered a genius for the way he played basketball.  On the court, Michael had the ability to know where the ball, the goal, and every necessary player were - and how to position himself accordingly - so well that when he decided to leave the court permanently, he had become one of its all-time leading scorers.

Many nights I think about where I am and what I am supposed to be accomplishing.  I believe that when I know who is on my side, who our opponents are, where our goals are, and exactly what we plan on doing to reach those goals, I am able to adjust myself accordingly.  I long to be thought of as some kind of genius, to be part of a team that is undefeated, and to be seen as one who belongs with those whose reputation is intimidating, but that's not how things are for me.  I often don't feel very accomplished; too often I think that there is nearly no one on my side, and, at 5-foot-nothin', I'm not all that intimidating, either.  I realize, though, it's a matter of perspective.

Tonight I'm thinking about my perspective.  The other night, I could only see my daughter's former coach as an opponent, my husband saw her more like someone on the sideline, my daughter saw her as a teammate.  In all my activity this basketball season, I see better how I belong to God - truly, how we all do.  Humility gives us the proper perspective to be where He needs us to be, then He fills us with every skill necessary to accomplish every goal He creates for us.  We need to seek His face, for He watches everything we do; eagerly listen to His voice, for He offers constant encouragement and instruction.  His individual discipline and instruction, as well as team building activities, often come through those around me (as it did through my daughter the other night).  Every moment we have is our opportunity to work together to ultimately win or lose. 

One day, whether we are aware of it now or not, God will give us His final perspective on how well we did with the life He offered us in Christ.  For now, it is best to know that His perspective is, though each life is a gift, it is not something to play at; know that He will never apologize for His call in/on our lives.