I’ve been in another “writer’s block” of sorts over these last months (year?). A lot has happened that has made it difficult to write more than a devotional snip-it quickly posted to social media! When my heart is weary and overwhelmed, my thought process changes with the expression of my reflections shifting to a shorter burst of words as opposed to the more drawn out, reflective blog.

Instagram and Facebook posts became my expressive lifeline, yet I am drawn once again to a space designed for deeper inflection.

Soooo~

I was watching my son play in the first Varsity football game of the school year the other night (if you’ve been following me for very long then let me give this life update: my baby -affectionately nicknamed “the Young Master”- is now a SENIOR in high school!)

While watching him play I noticed something:

he often made defensive plays that disrupted the offensive plan that allowed a different teammate on his team to get the credit.

I am no football expert, but I have learned a few things over the years. I now know that the Defensive End is to put an incredible amount of pressure on the opposing team’s quarterback. When this happens, the quarterback is forced to make his play much more quickly than would be desired….if my son doesn’t sack him first, that is!

If the above-mentioned “sack” occurs, the crowd goes wild, the DE’s dad jumps up slamming his fists in the air, and the mom’s heart bursts for joy!

The Defensive End gets the credit with his name being announced over the loud speaker…and let me tell you what! This is a GOOD feeling folks!

However.

If the “sack” does not occur….there is no public glory for the DE….no matter what his momma saw him doing as he came around the corner like a freight train (see what I did there, dad?😉) toward that poor quarterback for the twentieth+ time in the game.

The football is thrown to the receiver hastily in an effort to avoid the unavoidable collision with a single-focused , 6- foot tall, 210 lbs young man who has been working for this moment in time for over five years.

As Captain America says, he “can do this all day”.

The DE is coming….he is coming fast….he is ready to hit hard…he wants that ball. Every time. Every play.

But he doesn’t get the glory without the sack. No accolades. No rewards.

The defender guarding the receiver gets the credit for appropriately blocking that reception or even managing an interception.

And the Defensive End lines up once again to do his job… quietly…. intensely…intentionally…with pure focus and determination to help his team.

The other defender did his job too…and did it well. It’s the right thing to do to give the obvious credit where credit is due…

But this is my take away:

Whether he receives the “credit” for a job well done or not, what he does still matters.

His role is imperative to the success of his team and the outcome of that game.

His role may be more “behind the scenes” but it is essential for his team for him to stay consistent and effective when he performs.

What he does allows an opportunity for others to reap the reward off his effort.

And when he gets that “sack”? It feels good…it makes him hungry for more…

But if he focuses on the fulfillment of his hunger as his only success, then he loses sight of the team...the bigger picture.

If he grows embittered to the one who reaps the benefits of his sweat, blood, and tears?

Suddenly~

the game is all about him and not the team. His success.

He loses motivation to push hard because he is now personal reward driven instead of big-picture focused.

He becomes selfish instead of selfless.

Apathy takes over causing him to hold back with an attitude of “what I do doesn’t matter anyway”.

Kingdom living can be like this.

We are all a part of God’s family with each of us doing a different role. At times, what we do makes a huge difference in someone’s life or in a ministry function and that feels good.

Recognition and reward feels good.

But that cannot be what our life in Christ is like for it is not about me because it needs to be about HE.

My recognition for my idea or my job well-done is as addictive as bite-sized Butterfinger candy bars! When I taste one. I can’t help but want another…and another! They go down so smooth….like compliments do.

Being singled-out, praised, or acknowledged for a specific talent, gift, or skill is as wonderful as my son’s name being announced over the loud speaker at a football game.

However, doing the work regardless of recognition needs to remain the focus because there is more going on in this world than what I bring to it.

The work I do, that you do, is for the Lord and His glory.

The work I do, that you do, is a skill from the Lord to do for His Kingdom.

Thankfully, Jesus knows we require encouragement to endure so He provides what we need to persevere in the in-between experiences when others do seem to be succeeding, thriving, getting ahead, achieving what we desire.

To receive what He offers we must keep our focus on Him …His game plan for His Kingdom.

And we need to keep doing what we have been called to do …gifted to do….equipped to do.

Commit your works to the Lord -submit and trust them to Him, and your plans will succeed (if you respond to His will and guidance).

A man’s mind plans his way (as he journeys through life), but the Lord directs his steps and establishes them.

Proverbs 16:3, 9 AMP

It isn’t easy to watch others succeed … especially if it’s off your own effort while you’re seemingly stuck in one place. It’s humbling. It’s painful.

Keep doing what you’ve been called to do anyway. Keep going with the same intensity as an almost 17 year old playing his senior year of varsity football.

Commit what you’re doing to the Lord. Do it for Him and not for yourself.

May you be as sweaty, bruised, and potentially bloody as this Defensive End is after he has given 150% of himself to achieve a win for his team when you cross that goal line into eternity.

May the reward of being in the presence of Jesus be enough as He says “well done, my good and faithful servant.”