go team!

"So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men." Philippians 2:1-7

Paul's writings are inspiring and encouraging. Even when he was in pain and far away from the church, he was able to encourage the body. He clung to the cross and encouraged them to live as followers of Christ- as one. This is the benefit of being a believer in Christ. We are not alone. I have to realize this every week. As part of the body, I am called to encourage and uplift those around me. Are we not all in this fight together?


I grew up playing sports- volleyball, basketball and softball. I enjoyed working out and training my body. I enjoyed moving as a team. It was powerful to have people behind me, pressing me on and believing in me. I learned a lot about what it is to be apart of a team working toward one goal- winning. If you were to ask me if I was competitive, I'd say yes because I'd worked so hard and I was determined not to settle for second. But as far as individual competitiveness, I'm not so sure that I would have told you that I was competitive. (I'm not saying that competition is a bad thing, it just wasn't in my blood). I was concerned with perfecting my game and working hard and learning new things, but at the end of the day, I knew wasn't going to be recruited to play in college or offered any sort of scholarship, so for me it was about seeing the team succeed. Competition is everywhere in our culture and I believe that it can be healthy. More importantly though, during my years on the team I learned what it is to excel in my own talent. I was a slightly versatile player in softball and my coach sometimes moved me to different positions, but in volleyball my position was pretty clear. At 5'5", it was clear that they weren't calling me in to block at the net. I was a setter in junior high and by the time the game became more competitive, my skill was in a defensive back row position. Honestly, I was pretty good at it. I could get lower, move fast and cover my hitters. I focused on moving my feet and knowing the court and picking up the short tips off the front row. When my coach first moved me to the position, she taught me the things to focus on and encouraged me to work the position. I knew I could do it and so did she. My team knew I could do it. When I would come in for other players to take over their back row position, they had confidence in me. I had skill back there and it's where my talent was. I excelled. I stopped trying to jump higher or perfect my block. It's not that it didn't matter to the game, but it was not my role on the team. I was satisfied and the team succeeded.

This is not only true in sports. It can happen wherever natural talent is found and encouraged. When you know what you are good at, you can focus your time and energy. More importantly, when you know what someone else is good at you can encourage them. I would not have been as disciplined in my game, if I did not have teammates and my coach and my parents telling me I could do it. I thrive off encouragement. If you want to see me raise my game, tell me I can do it. True, selfless encouragement is powerful. For the sake of the body of Christ, encourage your friends! Find what they do well, whether it is smiling, sorting bottle caps or selling cars, and speak encouragement to them. Grow their talent, show them where they work well, tell them what they do best, and make an effort to let them know how you value their gifts.

Last week I finished a book that exemplified this idea. Though it was not Biblical, the principle applies. Our Creator has given us unique gifts that feed our spirit. I believe that through these we are able to know our God in a deeper, more personal way. The book I read was a biography of a young boy and his family living with his diagnosis of Tourette's syndrome. This changed his life and from that day forward, the family was searching for an explanation and cure for the disease that interfered with their son's mind and body. Cory Friedman began seeing doctors at age five. The different medications that he took further confused him and his family. One day a few years after his diagnosis, Cory runs out of the house in frustration and begins to climb a tree. It is dangerous because his tics cause uncontrollable body movements, but he climbs. He slips a couple times but when he reaches the top of the tree, he feels free. He feels enlightened. He engaged in an activity that not only stimulated and challenged his body, but it fed his soul. He felt alive and real. The description in the book says that years later this memory would prove to be a small part of what he used in overcoming his fight.

I believe that when we know our Creator, know what we were made for (God's glory) and know where we find our biggest victories, we are able to do the work of the kingdom. Be encouraged! We are one body of the same mind, having the same love and living life in full accord. Please find your friends and tell them what they do well. Show them the gifts God has given them and encourage them in it. I know that part of who I am today is because of the loving friends I have who know how to encourage my gifts, and sometimes discourage my non-gifts!

For the sake of the body, love each other well.