(a 4 minute read)  Watching some of the March Madness basketball season encouraged me greatly. To say that these players are working hard is the understatement of the century. Talk about high stakes; every game must be a win to advance. No second chances. None. Can you imagine the pressure? Can you see them sweating? and that’s on the inside more than sweating on the outside. Boiler-Room circumstances if you know what I mean.

Yet, with all that burden, gravity and stress, have you watched how they treat one another during the game?? The solidarity the camaraderie the brotherhood the fellowship……….. it is unparalleled and incomparable.

As a spectator rooting for one team, I find myself yelling at the player on TV for a terrible pass. Then I see his teammate give him a brotherly pat on the shoulder as if he’s done something good, and it humbles me as it reminds me of what an ass I am for yelling at the screen. You know where I am coming from, right?

There is one situation in particular that happens repeatedly during a game that has always befuddled me! Let’s take one of these instances involving the star player, Ben, who shoots 3 point hoops from like 27 feet out without fail. Remember, this applies to any other player. Ben is fouled and gets three free throws.

Ben stands on the line, bends his knees and ejects his body up without his toes leaving the floor, while his hands gently guide the ball into its trajectory into the air. All eyes, and I mean all eyes are on the ball…….. it hits the back of the hoop, circles on the rim almost a full turn and falls……. Out of the basket.

Now, please, please forget the reaction of the crowd and the announcers. Forget my reaction as I am watching the game on TV. I want you to focus on Ben’s teammates standing by his side on the basketball court, for it is his teammates that stand to lose this game as every single point MATTERS. Remember, you lose the one game, and you are a GONER.

Do you see one of them clasping his head with both hands and bending over as if someone just punched him in the gut?    NOPE.

Is another pulling his hair out and his face looks like he’s about to cry?  NOPE.

Then what are these teammates doing while standing around Ben?? Come on! Are you conjuring that image of this team at this moment? You got the image?

They typically come around to surround Ben. Clapping hands as if watching a grand performance. Low fiving Ben as if he sunk the hoop. Patting Ben on the back as if he’s pulled through a crisis. Am I lying here? Isn’t that what they are doing? Does that ever catch you like, “what the heck?” Or have we just accepted it just as part of the game??

Don’t you think that each and every teammate wants to scream off the top of their lungs, “Beeeeeeeeeen………. You’re KILLING ME.” Feel free to substitute the ‘you’re killing me’ phrase with your choice of colorful words……. yet Ben’s teammates do not do that. They do not. Rather they give Ben some LOVE, no no, they give Ben MUCH LOVE. They encourage him in essence to say, “It’s alright brother”, “We love you mate”, “We know you’re trying your best dear friend”……….

“It’s OK buddy, it could have been me there doing the same thing” …………..

How does Ben feel when he misses that shot, or how about when he misses his second and third shots, yet receives the same reaction from his teammates?

Ben feels like a sinner, failing his team’s – his community’s – his coach’s expectations. Doesn’t he??

But you know what!? It is his teammate’s love through this situation that encourages him and rebuilds his confidence. It reassures Ben that he can do better next time.  Amen?

Conjure that picture of the teammates basically saluting Ben at the time of his failure. Then ask; “Why can’t I be like that to my fellow Christians?”

We, Christians, are so afraid of sin that we automatically, probably subconsciously, distance ourselves from talking about sin.

You may say, no, no we talk about sin! Yes, we do, but always in the THIRD person as if it is someone else’s problem and never mine………….

Prayer; my Lord and my God, may I humble myself and let my fellow human being know that I mess up even more than he/she does. May I never ever talk from both sides of my mouth and say I am a sinner yet act as if sin is something in my past? You my Creator are the ultimate encourager as You clap the most for me regardless of my actions, just to reassure me. I thank You so very much for the love that You exhibit in ways unimaginable. I love You my Maker. Amen.