I don’t much care for sport analogies because they tend to be overused and misapplied. They often appeal to those with athletic background but can fail to ‘connect’ with the non-athletic majority (according to Harvard University, 75% of adult Americans do not play sports).
Although I was a semi-serious biker at middle age, I was not a student athlete (“Mark, did you play sports in school?” “Are you kidding? When I started high school, I was 4’11” and weighed 98 pounds. Not exactly a football or basketball center.”)
I am not an “anti-athlete”, but I do relate to those for whom athletic analogies may not be effective. But, for no known reason, I recently pondered the question, “What would God be like as a coach?” and I came to some (not necessarily theologically deep) conclusions. I think Coach God might gather his team at half-time and say something like the following ….
“OK team, listen up. I don’t have to tell you how important this game is. This is not the quarterfinals. It’s not the semi-finals. This is for the world championship. And everyone … and I mean everyone … is watching what you are doing out there.”
“So, I want each and every one of you to focus, right now. I want you to think about the importance of this game, and about what YOU are going to do to help your team win.”
“You know your opponent, and you know they are fielding the best bunch of players they’ve ever had. Not only that, but they play dirty, and we don’t. So, we have to be better, more committed, and show more heart out there … we have to have a greater will to win.”
“I don’t like to dwell on negatives. But I’ve heard some of you say some things I don’t like, and I won’t accept. Things like “I’m not sure I’m good enough to face those guys,” or “I need more experience before going head-to-head with an opponent like this.”
I heard someone ask, “Why put me up against a team like that? Isn’t there somebody better?” and I even heard one of you say, “If I play like coach tells us to, I could get hurt.”
“Well, you’d better listen carefully, and you’d better take this to heart right now. You joined this team for a reason. And it wasn’t to sit on the bench. Maybe you don’t like the position I’ve put you in. Maybe you wish our opponent was weaker, or slower, or didn’t have a good game plan. But you are on the team. And, unless you are on the injured list, there is no place for you on the bench.”
“Now, I expect that you … I demand that you each get out there and give it everything you’ve got. No excuses, no hiding behind “I’m not good enough” or “I don’t know all the possible plays” or “I might get hurt.” The fans are watching, and the team is counting on you. And so am I. You know what needs to be done. Now let’s go out there and do it.”
