I have a friend who encouraged me to consider the connection between being a christian and being on a wrestling team. I'm transferring my ideas to the blog ...
We had a small wrestling team in high school. For whatever reason, the year we won our district and placed in the top 20 in the state, we had only about 18 guys on the team total - varsity, junior varsity, and freshman levels combined. I don't know whether it was because of the practice demands placed on us or whether it was because of personalities, but in general, it seemed that the only people who came out for the team were guys that were already good at wrestling - we had few novices. I was probably the "newest wrestler," having only 3 prior years of experience. But in any case, this has become the part of my metaphor- that to be a wrestler on this team, you have to be good.
The second part of the metaphor is the realization that this is not what God says. He does not say that to be on his team, you have to be good. Instead, he says, "Be on my team, and I'll make you good." Being a part of God's family - being part of his team - is not based on my status before I join or my performance once I'm in. Just being part of the team - showing up and listening to the coach, "allows" him the coach to shape you into the "wrestler" he has designed you to be. But he's not just any coach - he's not even just a perfect coach. He is the coach that can create something out of nothing, whose love changes us into something we were meant to be. Sure, the practices are hard, and the better you listen to the coach, the better wrestler you'll be - but isn't that rewarding? If no servant is greater than his master and one fully trained is like his master, what does that mean for the "wrestler" who sticks close to this coach? Does it not mean you will reflect him in your style? Won't you be like him in your tenacity, in your knowledge, and in your execution? As you learn the basics from him, won't you be able to improvise in new situations on the fly as the occur "in the match?"
This coach is the coach who will not reject any who come to him - no matter what their current level! This is the coach who can take a blob of clay - actually, who can create the blob of clay - and form it, through whatever processes he chooses into a work of art. This coach is like a master artist who is not limited by the raw material he starts with.
The point is not, reach a certain level and you can be on his team. the point is that if you join his team, he will take you to levels you do not dream of ...
The beauty is the God won't kick you off his team. As long as you keep coming out to practice, he'll work with you and in you - even if you are the slowest learner around ...
Coach will take you if you are a good wrestler ...
God will take you and make you a great wrestler ...
Whose team would you want to be on?
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