Good Monday morning! I hope your Holidays and weekend went well. Saturday was a busy but productive day! There were several close games which added to the excitement and all of the players got one week better! We all work to be better week by week. My staff and I are always trying to find better ways to prepare and conduct practices and games along with better ways to notify people and better efficiency in all of our efforts. This Saturday we had our first technical foul called against a coach by a referee. We are using professional referees (and paying them) in order to assure the best quality officiating possible. The coach who was called out is a good one; a great guy who just got caught up in the action. Let me assure you…I’m no hypocrite! I’ve been “that guy” way too many times as a coach and even just a parent when my kids were growing up. I’ve embarrassed my wife, made my daughter cry, been called out by umpires, and even modeled some bad habits for my son who was a high school coach for a while. I’ve felt the feelings and expressed them in the wrong manner. God put me in the position of leading a Recreation Ministry 16 years ago. I came equipped with some knowledge of management, sports, and a willingness to work hard. One of the tasks put before me was to create a sports program that was to be “in the world but not of the world”. My experiences in my earlier sports life occurred as I was a Christian, even as a music director and youth pastor. I just got caught up in the competition. My passion for my team, my kids, and my misplaced sense of right and wrong led to expressions of which I was ashamed. And now, here I am in a position in which I am to help Spirit called volunteers lead and mentor young ones while they, themselves, become ministers. As they serve, they grow. I did!
Psalm 51:10 asks God to, “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.” Every level of every sport has officials who are expected to see everything on the court or field and to view it in the same manner as every player, coach, and fan. The difficult task we have is to realize that reality and place the proper value on it. You may be right, but the ones calling the balls and strikes, the fouls or three second violations, the offsides, or whatever, are doing their best. We even invite our coaches to assist as sideline refs so that they can help with the effort to see and call everything properly.
While our efforts, our expectations, and our protective nature toward our players may raise our blood pressure from time to time, we are teaching children the proper way to react while they are playing a game. Their developing nature will one day determine their behavior at a red light when the person ahead of them is on a cell phone, in a grocery line when the person ahead of them can’t find their check book, and in many other relatively minor instances in which frustration may lead to improper behavior that they will later regret. I am writing this as a personal confession and as a heartfelt challenge for all who read this to be in control and to encourage each other. In my previous career I had a subordinate staff member step in front of me and probably save my career as I was about to react in a very negative manner. I will never forget that. Knowledge is knowing what, but wisdom is knowing when and how. Let’s all be examples and helpers for each other as we minister to children and families.
Please remind all of your families that the CSports Basketball Celebration will be Sunday, 1/19, at 3:00pm in the gym. Encourage all to attend and to get here early so they can fill out their response card. Thank you all for everything you do for this ministry!
In His Service,
Steve Ellisor, Recreation Minister
Christ United Methodist Church
251-706-3326
“In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your paths.” Proverbs 3:6