Not A Fan

My friend Craig has become a huge fan of the GCU (Grand Canyon University) Men’s Volleyball team here in Arizona.  At this writing they are ranked in the top five in the nation with a record of 20-3.  His passion for the team overflows and affects us all. Some of us in the group have even gone with Craig to the stadium and cheered his team on.  

Craig has a special connection to volleyball.  In high school he participated in soccer but was released from the team.  While biking in the neighborhood he saw a few of his friends playing volleyball.  When they needed an extra person Craig jumped in.  That same year, 1988, his junior year, his high school started a volleyball team, which Craig joined. The Royal High School Highlanders in Simi Valley, CA went on to the playoffs their first year and Craig was an instrumental part in their success.  The following year Craig was named a Co-MVP as the Highlanders set a league record.  

Craig was Royal High School’s First Division 1 men’s volleyball recruit and went on to play for San Diego State.  Recently, Craig and his wife Rachel returned to California where he was inducted into the Royal Volleyball Hall of Fame.  We are all proud of our friend.

While we can spend a couple hours watching teams battle, we will never have Craig’s insight into what and why things are happening, unless you’ve been on a team yourself. We will never understand fully the training the players have to go through, the coaching, and the strategy of the game.  We may not appreciate the time it takes the team to watch films of the opposition and discuss their opponents’ strengths and weaknesses.  And then there are hours spent practicing, traveling, diets and lifestyle changes needed all to be part of a team that is dedicated to winning.  We can sit there, watch and complain that someone served the ball into the net, hit a ball out of bounds or missed a block, but we will never understand what it feels like to be on the court. 

So you know what’s coming next – my comparison of Craig’s journey to our spiritual journey.  You can write this part yourself – the encouragement to get in the game, get off the sidelines, stop being a fan of Jesus, and become a participant.  Practice hard, train hard, watch our spiritual food, and be aware of the enemy’s tactics.  Nothing new here, but I wanted to share my friend’s story and encourage you that it’s well worth the effort to participate.   

Hebrews 11 is such a powerful chapter, it’s sobering but I encourage you to read it. The faith of the patriarchs and the suffering of the saints all before Jesus came on the scene.  In Chapter 12 it says…

Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Hebrews 12:1-2 NKJV

Yes we have people cheering us on, the saints are watching, we should be encouraged and strengthened in our faith.  The cloud of witnesses understand the struggle because they were directly involved themselves.  It’s ok to be a fan, but we will have time for that later. Let’s get in the game while we still have the opportunity.