January 16, 2023 - Your Best Is What's Best For The Team!

Team First! That is a mantra we hear often… one we celebrate… one that fits well with our theme we have been emphasizing for the 2023 season of serving others because the team matters! Last week I made the statement, “It’s time for the team to start showing up again!” Yet I must put an addendum to this… showing up in the right condition…

I often would tell players that they owe it to their teammates to be working out in the off-season… to be eating right… to be getting the proper rest… so they could be their best for the team. (I remember sitting at a coaching clinic led by legendary coach Don Meyer. I loved that guy’s teaching and zeal for the game! I remember him looking at one of the players from the college where the clinic was held that was helping demonstrate drills/concepts; the kid was a skilled player but Meyer looked at him and blurted out, “you owe it to your team to get in shape!” Seems rather harsh, but Meyer believed we owe something to one another… and that is to bring our best so we, as a team, can be our best!

I was reminded of this yesterday as one of our pastors was speaking about the importance of self-care; he had a bottom line that said: “Don’t be selfish. Care for yourself.”

He used the illustration of firefighters staying physically fit, not just so they can look in the mirror, but so they can do their job and help others… he shared a quote that says, “Sometimes the most spiritual thing you can do is take a nap.”

The point is that in order to serve, we have to have “the stuff” needed to get the job done!

A great passage he shared is found in 1 Kings 19 when Elijah is running scared… and Elijah then takes a nap and God’s messenger appears:

Vs 5 … “arise and eat”

Vs 6 …he… lay down again

Vs 7 …the angel… a second time… “arise and eat”

Vs 8 …he went in the strength of that food…

Vs 14 … the Lord said to him, “Go… anoint Jehu… and Elisha”

Elijah needed his strength to serve the team!

So during this time where I am urging us all to serve… don’t neglect the fact that we owe it to the team to be in great shape (spiritually, mentally, physically) to do so! This is “the stuff” champions are made of!

YOUR BEST IS WHAT’S BEST FOR THE TEAM!