FINDING THE FLAME (dedicated to the lacrosse girls)
image courtesy of photobucket.com
It’s a rare experience in life to look intensely into the eyes of a group of people and have their undivided attention, especially when they are young eyes. My eyes burn with passion and desire, not for me in this scenario, for them. Then a rare occurrence, they are hearing, they are listening, they are learning.
I remember the look in their eyes, full of life. They are excited, scared, fearless, worried, and motivated, all at the same time. They are learning about life in the form of a parable; playing a game… It’s been a while since I’ve been on a lacrosse field. I forgot how exhausting it is, not so much physically, but mentally.
To give what we have to others for their benefit is a calling of responsibility before God. The real giving of gifts we give aren’t just the handing over of an item or material gift, it’s leading others to strive to find and ignite the passion or flame that all of us have.
To watch that flame come to life in the eyes of a young person is the gift we get in return for our efforts. Those truly are the best gifts aren’t they? To have a right perspective in our lives is to cherish the gift of giving, even if we don’t get anything in return.
The ironic part of the whole scenario is that when we give of ourselves we are gratified and fulfilled from the inside… nothing on the outside can compare… If that’s not gift enough, often the ones we care and strive to help find their fire and some wisdom offer, a genuine “thank you.” It doesn’t get any better than that…
To gaze deep into the eyes of another younger soul and acknowledge them as an individual and have them know how special they are is the message God is sending out; each one of us are special. It doesn’t matter if you’re the best player in the parable of the game and how it relates to life.
The truth and understanding of our uniqueness and how special we are, even in the midst of a crowded school or planet, is the beginning of God’s truth; the first step toward Him. In the game of life, much like the parable of a game, we run the race – our race. It really doesn’t matter where we place as long as we run the path set before us by God.
As I watch the girls run the last sprint of the day, sweating, struggling to catch their breath, lungs burning, we demand more… and they get stronger. We don’t give it to them, God’s given it to them, we just help them find it… They run with all their might: I picture them taking off into life with the lesson they’ve learned about life on the lacrosse field – playing a game.
The last sprint is like our lives, the words yelled in emotion are the same for both… “This is the only one that counts”! – “This is your chance to get stronger”! – “Give it all now”! – “Leave it all on the field”!!! “On my whistle”!
And they begin… We’ve handed them the baton in the relay race of life…
May they run with honor while finding the flame.
Wednesday, April 25, 2012 @ 2:20 am
What a very apt illustration about life as a christ-follower. Give it all. Leave it on the field. As you see results from your girls when the other team tires or wants to give up, life is the same way. nice analogy Floyd.
Wednesday, April 25, 2012 @ 7:01 am
Thanks Bill. It’s not perfect, but we’re giving it our all… in the end, that’s all He’s seeking form us.
Wednesday, April 25, 2012 @ 5:08 am
Powerful words! Great illustrations for our journey with Christ.
My post today is sort of similar- it talks about fixing our eyes on Christ and running the race set before us, knowing Christ is in control!
Wednesday, April 25, 2012 @ 7:02 am
Thanks TC. Great minds do think alike!
Wednesday, April 25, 2012 @ 7:52 am
This reminds me of the Scripture in 1 Corinthians 9 “24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it.25 Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable.26 So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air.27 But I discipline my body and keep it under control,t lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.”
Wednesday, April 25, 2012 @ 9:47 am
Whoa… That says it all doesn’t it? I’m honored and encouraged by the verse God put in your heart… Powerful. Thanks April.
Wednesday, April 25, 2012 @ 8:40 am
Your post is also instructive to all of us. It is in the “entering in” that connects us. But, the “entering in” requires commitment. It takes effort and it may not be convenient all the time. In fact, most of the time, it isn’t. I find that what many people “say” is not what they actually “do”. It’s easy to drop a bag of groceries to a needy mom, but better yet, stay and give her some company, help her clean house, take her to coffee, or buy her a new blouse or underwear. The gift of “you” is what is really needed was my take away from this post. Thanks for the example! You are definitely in the top 10%!
Wednesday, April 25, 2012 @ 9:43 am
Thanks Nancy. Those are kind and powerful words. You managed to take it deeper and really pull more out of the subject. Interesting the way God wired us; the more we give the more we get from a spiritual standpoint. Well said.
Wednesday, April 25, 2012 @ 9:25 am
Tremendous post dude! Coaching, imploring, encouraging…these are born from the Father’s heart.
Wednesday, April 25, 2012 @ 9:46 am
Thanks Jay. And thanks for sharing those gifts you described for others as well.
Wednesday, April 25, 2012 @ 10:17 am
“We don’t give it to them, God’s given it to them, we just help them find it… ”
Yep, I know just what you mean, Floyd. We’re blessed to be involved at all. To God be the glory for how He makes things grow.
Thursday, April 26, 2012 @ 6:47 am
Amen Lisa. I know you know this very well. Thanks.
Wednesday, April 25, 2012 @ 6:33 pm
Run, play enjoy the game, but when the whistle blows – – leave it all there on the field. Wow.
You were such a great teacher and mentor to those girls and I am sure that most of them carried on the lessons learned as they graduated on into their life’s work. Great Post!
Thursday, April 26, 2012 @ 6:49 am
Thanks Hazel. Last Sunday at church I ran into one of the girls I used to coach, she’s a doctor now. When she introduced me to her sister in law she described me as, “My high school coach – my mentor”… She’s such a great kid I know that it was an over the top compliment, but it is an honor to be part of any of the young people’s lives.
Wednesday, April 25, 2012 @ 9:04 pm
It’s all about doing our best for our Father. When the day is over my desire is to have please God in every area of my life. Great post.
Thursday, April 26, 2012 @ 6:53 am
What a great foundational perspective of life, thanks for observation and wisdom Dan.