As you probably know I am a huge basketball fan. I enjoy college basketball and am a devoted Tar Heel, but my real passion is high school basketball. Fellowship Baptist Academy has had a team for 12 years and during that 12 year span I've attended all but one game. Actually, I am one of the assistant coaches to our varsity team and enjoy helping my brother, who has been our head coach since the beginning of our program. For me it is a great diversion and I cherish this extra time that I am able to spend with the young men who attend FBA.
There are many traditions that make up a sport like basketball. One such tradition is that at the completion of the game the two teams form two lines headed in the opposite direction, and they shake hands with their opposition. It is a show of good sportsmanship and something that I believe should be done. For many years I've hurried through that line; busily shaking the hands of 10-12 high school guys and their coaches. A couple of months ago my attitude toward "the line" changed.
One day it hit me that those weren't just sweaty kids who wore the opponents' jersey, they were people. Not only did I realize that they were people, I realized that they were young people who were quickly growing into young adults. I realized that, because they were students from a Christian school, some of them would go on to Bible college and train for the ministry. It hit me that I was actually shaking the hands of those who would lead our churches, our schools, our communities and our nation in the not so distant future. Whether or not I even knew their name, I was being given the opportunity to shake hands with my future as I made my way through that line.
I wish that we could all realize the "bigness" of working with young people! Whether we are rearing our own children, teaching a class of Sunday school students or coaching a team of high school athletes, we have been given influence over the next generation. It's bigger than a basketball game or a tournament championship; it is our future! Sports is one of many tools that God has given us to touch the lives of people. As you make your way through "the line" where God has placed you, discipline yourself to be aware. Pray for those young people. Love them unconditionally. Use whatever amount of influence you've been given in a positive way. It makes a difference.
I've done this long enough now that young men from "the line" have moved on in life. Some of them are in the ministry. Some of them are faithful members of good churches and are raising children of their own. Unfortunately, some of them have wandered away from the will of God and are in need of restoration. I thank God today that He allows me to have a little bit of influence in the lives of young people. It's a big deal!
