I recall the playgrounds of my youth, not very fondly. I always hated it when it was time to play some kind of team sport. The two best athletes would just naturally be the team captains and they would take turns picking their teams. I was always the last picked. I was an awful klutz and a terrible athlete, really not an athlete at all.
I read an article this morning calling for the banning of that practice in school. The author commented about how it permanently harms kids, like me. You would think I would be in favor of such a ban, but I don’t think I am. I would be sensitive to the situation for my own kids, grandkids and such, but I think that horrible practice had an overall positive influence on me.
I was the first kid in my graduating class to join up. Vietnam was going on. All those other big tough kids ran off and hid in college. Not me I joined the Navy. Not the marines, the team picking experience motivated me. It didn’t make me insane. Lot of my motivation in life that led me to success in college, and law school and, to some extent, in life, I can trace back to school yard humiliations.
I am glad that Jesus doesn’t pick His team that way. In fact, I really don’t understand how He does it. He sure doesn’t pick the kids I would pick. He seems to choose those who can’t speak very well to preach the gospel. He picks the shy to share His word. He picks the weak to build His kingdom. Not much of a team captain is He?
No matter if you were the team captain as a kid or the last kid picked. Be aware the rules are different now. The next Billy Graham is probably drunk in an alley somewhere now, not studying at our finest seminary. Paul was a murderer before He was the great evangelist.
Don’t feel qualified to make a difference in a world that so desperately needs a change? Get ready, Jesus has a job for you.
Get ready to be picked and be blessed.
Nick
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