All American Emme

“Do you see someone skilled in their work?  They will serve before kings; they will not serve before officials of low rank.”  Proverbs 22:29 NIV

     Do you remember your glory days way back when you had such crazy things as strength, flexibility or energy?  I loved sports way back then, but I never had the talent to stand out.  I was never an “All-Anything” – not all state and not all league.  I loved participating and worked hard, but frankly I was too slow.  If you can’t catch the person you are supposed to tackle, you end up selling insurance. 

     I found out this week that Emme, my great-niece, was named to an All American Softball team.  She made a decision early on that she wanted to be great, not just good.  She has no doubt missed some of the life of a typical kid that age like hanging out with friends.  If there is a tournament in Kentucky you don’t get to lounge around on Saturday morning.  You leave the night before and log the miles. 

     She’s 12 years old and when you are that good sometimes you end up playing up in age group.  So, she actually showed enough skill against older players to be recognized.  But in any team called “all American” the term is reserved for around the top 15 or so players in all of America.  Think about that for a minute Emme, America.

     The world is full of people who have talent, but do not work hard enough to reach an elite level.  The world is also full of people who have worked hard, but don’t have enough talent to play at an elite level.  Emme has that much talent and has worked like a lunatic to develop that talent.  She’s legit.  My sister describes her as determined, self-motivated, kind, hard working and very competitive.  I fully believe I will get to watch her in the Women’s College World Series someday, winning it. 

     Her parents have also put in the work.  Traveling teams are a big part of youth sports, but usually it is not this kind of travel.  She plays on a select team, in Iowa – they live in Kansas City.  I have seen numerous posts from tournaments in states not attached to Kansas.  They have built batting cages in their yard, a place to practice pitching and have just fed her appetite to develop and improve. 

     But if you take all of that work and all of the time and money they have invested in this and add it all up, it does not entitle her to anything.  Nothing.  She has to earn it and deliver at a high level or they find someone else.  If she gets lazy, she’ll go home.  If Emme gets lazy, the world is off balance.  Emme is not lazy.  Her work and her skill help get her there but potential won’t keep her there.  She has to produce.   

     Why is any of this relevant?  Easter was last week and I talked about the sacrifice Jesus made to save me.  He knew me, but I did not even physically exist yet.  I recognize Him as my Savior.  His work on the cross gives me a path – if I believe Him.  I believe Him.

     However, that path has nothing to do with me or what I have done or how hard I have worked.  I have faith.  I have worked to learn more about Him, I think that is a good thing to work on.  I have worked to become a better person.  I believe it is important for me to reduce the myriad of distractions so I can learn more from His word so that I can draw closer to Him.  But, there is not one thing I can produce to deserve heaven.  Jesus gives us a chance to be on an All eternity team.  Think about that for a minute, eternity.

Have you ever felt called or guided by Jesus to do anything for a ministry or even just one person?  Have you ever said “no” because you felt too busy?

There have been times in my life that I have been very active in “doing”.  But some of that time was just plain busy.  How can you tell the difference?

Challenge:  Sometimes Jesus points out a need or a ministry that He wants us to be involved with. Hang around nearly any minister and you will see that they are busy.  Doing something in ministry looks like work.  But the older I get, the better perspective I have for the free pass He gave me on the cross.  There is not a darn thing that I have to do.