TEAMMATES

A warm, reciprocal team atmosphere does not come out of spontaneous combustion. Teams aren’t comprised of teammates after the first workout together. It takes planning, effort and time to build a team that finds synergy toward a mutual goal.

If you have built a campfire, you didn’t gather a bunch of logs and throw a match on them. Unless you have a flame thrower, the best way to create a strong fire is to make kindling wood, stack the pieces with space between them on top of paper and light the paper. As it builds into a fire, add larger and larger pieces until you are sitting beside a roaring fire.

There was a “roaring fire” in Tampa at the AAC Track & Field Championships last May. The 5k men were ablaze as they ran by a roaring fire of Yellow cheering them on. The 4×400 Relay caught fire and scorched the track for a finish that resulted in Wichita State winning the conference meet. Teammates were cheering for teammates not because they had the same uniform but because solid relationships had been built through a year or years of intentionally getting to know one another. The Womens’ Team was just as excited as the Mens’ Team and displayed remarkable support and encouragement that ignited the day with unbelievable success.

I’m thinking that the Bible has something to say about how a team can come together as one. It may not mean a conference championship every year but it will bring teammates together to be the best that they can be. Here it is…

“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:” ‭‭Philippians‬ ‭2‬:‭3‬-‭5‬ ‭

Let me pray with you. “Father, you are amazing. Thank you for your Son, Jesus, ‘Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross!‘ “

“May that attitude be ours as we follow you, Jesus. May your Holy Spirit work within us to draw us into a burning and vibrant relationship with you that ignites a desire to draw closer to you each day. Give us the courage to reach out to teammates. To get to know them for who they are and what they mean to you. Help us to lay down the things about us in conversation and seek to know and understand the things about others.” Amen

Go, Team!

Larry

Next week – “Teammates, Part II”, as we look at the kindling wood for team building.