Have you ever felt like a "bench warmer?" In one ear your emotions are telling you, "You aren't worth anything. The coach doesn't respect you...no one does. Why sit here and take this? Go ahead - just get up and leave. You don't need this humiliation."
This is a tough place to be. You don't want to listen to this voice because your training has taught you to be a team player.
The voice of a team player says, "You've worked so hard. You deserve to be here, ready when needed. Your best friends are in the game and you are part of the team. You are wanted."
It can be difficult sitting on the bench, while others seem to be getting all the playing time. Watching from the sideline after you've given endless hours of work, dedication and pushing yourself to the limit...the last thing you want is to do is sit on your hands.
This feeling can apply not only in sports and careers, but also in ministry. It is frustrating to be a SPECTATOR in what you love doing.
To keep the proper perspective, you have to consider WHY you are where you are at. Truthfully, you love doing what you're doing or you wouldn't be doing it. There is nothing like the thrill of seeing goals met, championships won and fruitful results as a result of giving your all! Even the bruises are battle wounds worn proudly at the end of the day!
I've learned in the ministry that even if you don't play much, you participate in every practice. Why? Because you are part of a team who sticks together like family.
Serving on a TEAM is where God designed us to function best! It doesn't matter if we're LEADING the team, NEW to the team or have the LEAST responsibility on the team - WE were designed to be on a TEAM.
John Maxwell said it best...TEAMWORK makes the dream work. As I think about the TEAM God has placed me on, I realize how BLESSED I am.
THE RIGHT TEAM
- The right team fits together like peas and carrots. Serving on a team isn't so much about loving the work we do...it's about loving the PEOPLE we've been called to do the work with. If there isn't REAL LOVE, the team will be dysfunctional.
- The right team shares the LOAD together. Why? Because problems don't belong to "ME" they belong to "WE".
- The right team speaks the TRUTH in LOVE in an environment of respect, because they love the church and one another too much to allow disrespectful behavior or constant COMPLAINING.
- The right team will discuss difficult things in a DIGNIFIED manner to make a right decision, rather than just making sure everyone is happy.
- The right team will operate and function in COVENANT relationship with one another. Refusing to talk ABOUT one another; rather talking WITH one another.
- The right team will show up EARLY, stay as long as NEEDED and make sure the work load doesn't fall on one person.
- The right team will CONTRIBUTE their fair share, without complaining when more is required.
- The right team will APPLAUD one another, rather than be JEALOUS of one another, knowing that when ONE wins...we ALL win!
- The right team will be FAITHFUL to their post, not because they have a POSITION but because their DISPOSITION is to SUPPORT the BIG PICTURE and VISION of the church.
- The right team will push past STAUS QUO to advance the cause! The right team is more obsessed with their DREAMS of what COULD BE rather than the memories of what HAS BEEN.
I love what we do and I love my TEAMMATES! When you think about it that way, the view from the bench really isn't so bad after all!
