Games We Play

The human body has many parts, but the many parts make up one whole body. So it is with the body of Christ.

1 Corinthians 12:12 

When I was much younger, we used to play a game called "Mousetrap" where the object of the game was to get your mouse around to the finish without getting caught by the Rube Goldberg-esque Mousetrap.  The thing that I always found interesting was the fact that if we put the contraption together in any other way than the intended design, the trap wouldn't work....AND if we left any part of the contraption out, the trap wouldn't work.  The trap would only work if the pieces were put together properly and functioned as they were intended.

I admit that was a much more innocent time for me, yet I still am able to find deeper meaning from the memories.  When we played baseball, everyone wanted to be the pitcher, so our games weren't exactly fun.  When we played football everyone wanted to be the quarterback, so our games weren't exactly outstanding there either.  In fact, every game we played, everyone wanted to be the "one in charge" and no one wanted to do the grunt work.  The thing we hadn't quite got a handle on was the simple concept that everyone has a part to play in order to make the team work properly.

It's true even in our lives today.  Everyone has a part to play...everyone has an important task to perform...everyone is important!  Look at it this way, what good is an army if there are only generals?  Who will dig the foxholes?  What good is a team with all pitchers? Who will catch the ball?  When we accept that we have a role to play, while it may not be the spotlight role, every role is important!  

God created us ON purpose, FOR a purpose.  He didn't put us on this Earth alone so we could learn to work together toward the same goal.  Those in the spotlight...make sure the rest of the team receives their due credit.  Those not in the spotlight...make sure you help make those in the spotlight look good because of your efforts.  And above ALL else, make sure that God is glorified! 

LOOK AT ME!

Let someone else praise you, not your own mouth—
    a stranger, not your own lips.

~Proverbs 27:2

Ever know anyone who just seemed to crave being the center of attention?  Someone who wants their every deed to be known, recognized, and acknowledged?  Let's face it, we all, at some point, enjoy it a little when our good deeds are noticed and acknowledged.  But what about those who seem to live for the recognition? 

Let me be clear, I am an Introvert!  I like quiet, behind-the-scenes, type activities.  Being involved is a need, but being the center of attention is extremely uncomfortable.

I learned a long, long (long, long, long, long) time ago, in my Army days, that if you wanted to be noticed, then try to be unnoticeable. The more I tried to be nondescript and camouflaged, the more my First Sergeant would pick me out; especially for such glamorous tasks as "Who's going to dig my latrines for me?" and "Who's going to wash my Mess Sergeant's cookware?"  During those moments, it was as if the world had gone dark and the only shining light was focused on me.

But it is sometimes frustrating when you do your best and, even though you don't like the spotlight, you'd like at least some acknowledgement.  After all, why even try if your efforts are not appreciated.  But then I hear Grampa's voice in my head, "People will get bored with you if you always brag about everything you do.If you want people to notice, don't do things to be noticed."  Hmmmm....something worth pondering.

Remember, "For all that is secret God will eventually bring into the open, and everything that is concealed will be brought to light and made known to all." Luke 8:17