NITOC for me and my club and students was quite successful. There were some goals made, some exceeded, and some surprises and disappointments. And that is the case for all competitions, and for life in general. I had a team of senior policy debaters that had a goal to walk across the stage for an award. The top 32 get to do that, and they were…32nd. I also had a team that thought they had a chance to win the whole thing, and they didn’t even break to out rounds at all. That was a huge surprise to all. And I know this was the case for everyone who came. Some win, some lose. Some achieve their goals, and some don’t. Some set their goals too high, some not high enough.
At the awards ceremony I realized I had left my meds in the truck. They hadn’t started announcing yet, so I ran out to my truck to get them. Outside I encountered a young coach and his student. I told them the awards ceremony had started, and the young coach said that there was nothing there for him. I said that he had a student, and they said that he was debate only, and they may go in at the debate awards. My response was that we are part of the body of Christ and that means we rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep.
I also saw one of my students sitting by himself. I asked him what he was doing. He shrugs his shoulders, and I said, “You are part of our club and I expect that you attend with us to rejoice and weep with us.” He complied.
Again, I know that there are always competitors who don’t achieve their goals. This is all part of it. And I have told all of my students that I truly believe that God had already set up who would be in the competition rooms, who the judges will be, and who will be in the audience. God also knows who is going to win and who will lose. But the most important thing to realize is that God has this all set for His reasons.
It may be that He wants your speech to be heard by specific people so He can use that to change their lives. It may be that He is “rewarding” you for your hard work, and He wanted you to get an award. It may be that God wants to humble you, or even bring you to helplessness so He can use you for even bigger things. The key is to not lose sight of the Lord.
The young coach and his student were looking to themselves. And if there was no award, then there wasn’t anything to go to the ceremony for. It reminds me of the older brother in the story of the prodigal son. He said that he had been his father’s slave for all these years and he never had a party given to him. His father said that he could have thrown himself a party at any time. But that son saw himself not as his father’s son, but as his father’s slave. Slaves don’t get parties.
I wonder if that is some of the attitude I saw in these young men at NITOC. They have a wrong view of themselves and of God. Many see God as the ultimate cosmic vending machine. You put in the right payment, and you get out what you choose, thinking that we somehow deserve something. But that is not how God or life works. It does happen that way at times, but if we were to all get what we deserve…there wouldn’t be anyone in Heaven, that’s for sure.
God gives us what we need in order for God to get the glory, and for us to be built up in Him. And there are times when our losses are exactly what we need. Sometimes our wins are what we need, or are just a great gift from God because He is a good Father. But it all goes back to Him, not us. We are to run the race He sets before us with our eyes fixed on Jesus, not on ourselves. Have you ever tried to look at your feet while you are running? It does not work. We will only stumble and fall. We run toward what we are looking at. We are to keep our eye on the prize. That’s why we are to look to Jesus. He is the prize.
I am going through the “minor prophets” right now. And this theme runs through them over and over. They all lost sight of the prize and were looking to themselves and what they thought they wanted or needed. As they did this, they strayed further and further from the finish line which is Jesus.
Hebrews 12 says we are to lay aside every weight and sin so we can run with endurance. My daughters and son-in-law ran in the Bolder Boulder this past weekend. It would not have served them well to load a 40 pound backpack and run with this. It wouldn’t be against the rules, it WOULD hinder them in the race and make it harder to finish.
I know that the NCFCA Nationals are coming soon. I will be heading to Vietnam at that time so will miss it. But the same pitfalls can and will occur there. Some will win and some lose. Some reach their goals, some won’t. This is how life works. What separates the Christians apart is our ability to run the race with our eyes fixed on Jesus, the only true prize. He will some times give us gifts of wins and even national championships just because He is that kind of God.
The habits we form when we are young will tend to carry over to life away from home. Therefore, work to build good habits in these early stages. Build your relationship with God and with others. Seek the benefit of others more than yourself. Run the race well.
Amen
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