Sideline Coach
“The voice of the Lord is powerful; the voice of the Lord is majestic.” Psalms 29:4
Real MOMent
My daughter plays on an organized sports basketball team. Throughout the season, families receive a weekly email newsletter that includes the upcoming game schedule and notes from the Youth Sports Director. In the most recent newsletter, one particular blurb caught my attention. From the email, evidently (hello judgment, that didn’t take long), there are parents who are coaching from the sidelines and it is making it hard for the actual coaches to coach during the game; and evidently, (there it is again) the parents who are shouting out instructions from the sidelines, are making it difficult for the players to hear the coaches calling plays. Let’s just say, I closed that email and patted myself on the back for being a supportive and cheering mother.
*Then I made a ‘mental note’ to take mental notes of the sideline coaches.*
On game day, I walked into the gymnasium and found the perfect seat positioned directly across from my daughter’s team’s bench. As the game continued, I heard myself yell “HANDS UP!” followed by “DEFENSE!” She appeared to be moving a little slow, so I shouted “HUSTLE!” That cheer, ironically, resulted in my daughter and I making eye contact, but she didn’t look motivated. She seemed confused, maybe even a little annoyed.
I went back to watching the game, and that’s when I decided to turn my attention to the referee--WOAH, someone blow the whistle!
What happened next was just like a scene from a movie when everything and everyone seems to slow down– I’m in the gym and I hear…myself. I’m saying cheer words but they sound different. What could I possibly say to the refs? I start to laugh at the absurd thought that I might be able to question a ‘traveling call’ when, in full disclosure, I don’t really know what it looks like. My internal dialogue continued: What are you talking about? You have never played or had the desire to play basketball; You actually don’t even really know or understand the game rules AND *mental note:* You’re a sideline coach!!!!
MOMent of Clarity
The “game time” lesson was perfectly timed and TIMING is everything, which is something that is certainly applicable from my cheerleader days! Even though my words and cheers were coming from a good place, they actually made it more difficult for my daughter and maybe even some of her teammates to hear the voice that mattered in the moment--her Coach’s voice!
When I first read the newsletter, I focused on what other people were doing, but I didn’t stop to consider why that request was so important. So all the sideline coaching, even if from well-meaning parents (goodbye judgment, hello understanding!) was only contributing to the confusion. Now, players had to work even harder to discern the voice of their loving and supportive parents and the voice of their coach, a volunteer, who had so generously signed up to help teach the young developing athletes.
The more clearly the players can hear the coach and follow through, the less confusion there is --even if the noise sounds like motivation.
The same is true as Believers and Christians who are walking in faith and following Jesus. He is THE Head Coach! And sometimes, I don’t always agree with the play or how He prepares me for the ‘game’ but He is THE PLAY and WAY Maker! Hearing His powerful and majestic voice takes a commitment to growing in relationship with Him through the Living Word. No matter where we are in our walk this is something that requires daily practice to discern His voice from the doubtful and sometimes enthusiastic voices of other people or things.
Yes, it takes a commitment but it is worth it! Being on His team and following His perfect plan means a “W” is always guaranteed!
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