Big Ten Tournament Lessons

Nothing like getting away for a few days packed with basketball and time with my dad. Congatulations to Illinois for having their off days be better than most others good days. Our teams didn't do very well (Hoosiers out after playing poorly against Minnesota and Northwestern winning against Michigan earning the right to play Illinois), but that allowed God to show me a thing or two about myself and how poorly I match up to Jesus' standard.

Now, I realize that all are crooked when compared to the straight rule (as in measuring stick) of Christ and that I am a work in progress - haven't arrived yet - which is just as well because if I had I'd be dead, but that didn't stop God from shining some light into the darkness that still resides within me.

First revelation - having an attitude about people purely based upon the color of their clothes and the team they support. I am not an Illinois, nor and Iowa fan. Never was, never will be. But that does not permit me to gripe inwardly when one sits next to me. I'm sure the same thing happens to you if you follow sports with much passion for any particular team. You've got your seats and if someone comes along supporting your team, you think super! someone I can chat with and we can have a good time because they have the same leanings that I do. How much does the situation change when a person sits down next to you wearing the colors of the team you're rooting against? Do you try to move over in your seat and think, "Oh great! I bet this guy (or gal) is going to be offensive, rude, and just going to put a damper on my day all together"? Especially if your teams chances are less than possible for victory?

How much does that spill over into our daily lives when we see people different than us and have to work with them or share close quarters with them? We just shut down toward that person. Even if God wanted to use us in their lives through a conversation or just treating them like we would want to be treated - welcomed with consideration and respect - no matter what their background or interests might be. I shudder to think of how many people I've done that to and how many wind up on the short end of the stick. I'd hate to think that anyone holds my differences against me, but I'm sure that some do - simply because I do. Lord, help me to change!

Revelation number two - being salt (adding flavor) to the world can be fun. Saturday night, I wanted to get an I-Pass (our evil state empire doubled the toll rates for everyone who doesn't have this latest bit of electronic wizardry) and a bit of Chinese food to eat. My brother and sister in law directed me to the local Jewel-Osco for the I-Pass. They thought that I would have to go to a different strip mall for the food. As I pulled into the parking lot, I noticed that there was a Chinese carryout just down the row so at least I wouldn't have to drive all over to find one. I figured I would go in after taking care of my other business, so I moved the truck down the lot to be closer and noticed that the place was packed! When I went in, people were standing around the walls. I thought that it must be either really, really good or just the closest carryout to everybody's home.

As I waited I had the chance to talk with a few people. To a person, everyone said that they enjoyed the food, but for some reason they had been waiting an inordinately long time for their orders. Some people were getting close to an hour since they called in. Whoa! I started to think that maybe I had chosen the wrong place, but I had already paid - too late to change now.

Have you ever noticed that if someone is willing to let down their wall and enter into a conversation with someone else (especially if you're all strangers) that others will realize that "it's safe" and let down their walls a bit too? While we waited, we started having fun! It became the first ever meeting for the delayed diner support group. Normally grim, unhappy people started enjoying each others company! We laughed. We said silly things as if it were an actual meeting. We started scoping out the food that was getting placed into the bags, asking who ordered the large container of egg drop soup and two egg rolls or the fried rice that had just been cooked. One lady said, "That sounds like mine" and the excitement built. Sure enough she left with her order and a smile on her face even though she had been waiting more than an hour. I (I can't speak for the others) ended up having a great time just waiting for food. Enjoying the company of a group of people I don't know and probably will never see again. I even met a man who had gone to the U of I and knew exactly where Arthur was. Needless to say, he was quite excited about the prospects for the Illini in the NCAA's.

We never know when God wants to use us or for what purposes. It doesn't have to be something big. It might just be brightening someone's day for a few moments. But if we close ourselves off to others, we'll never have the opportunity. God's love is for everyone. Jesus didn't die just for me. Be His representative to the people around you and see how things change!