I remember in elementary school the times when people would pick sides for kickball. I can still picture the kickball/softball field at North Shore Elementary School in Big Bear Lake, CA.This is also the same place where dry-land ski training began for me in 1971.
Back to the kickball – It usually started with the teacher choosing the two most athletic boys and making them captains, that way the teams would be more fair. Then the choosing would take place. First the next few best athletic types, then the cute girls, and then randomly picking from the balance of the classroom, until all were assigned to a team. The line-up for ‘kicking’ seem to fall into the same order of being,… the best first, then the cutest, then the rest would go. There was rarely an argument as to how things went, it just was.( BTW I was usually selected right after the cute girls got picked)
There was such a variety of skill levels at age 8. From the boy who could kick it a mile and make a home-run every time, to the kid who would rather be reading a comic book or play with the matchbox cars he had shoved in his pocket. The girls, well most of them were ‘very careful’, tapping the ball just past the pitcher (as the rule was) and most didn’t care if they got to first base or not.
As I grew older, I had hope things would have changed in life,… but the die had be set early on, and we all took those experiences off the kickball field, onto the arena of life. Choosing, selection, value, had been determined early on, and has stayed the course. We, the culture of man, haven’t strayed much from what was spilled into our lives by teachers, leaders, parents. Spilled as opposed to ‘poured’ meaning those who had responsibilities of guiding, mentoring and filling us did it quite randomly. Not a shotgun approach, but rather vaguely specific. No specific focus, but a widely random approach with hopes that some of “it” would stick! Some of it did stick,….some of us were wired for that approach to education, learning, growing, developing,.. while with others it did not.
So the ‘spilling’ continues. Some spill character, others spill hatred. Some spill kindness, others spill selfishness and envy. Some grace, others bitterness. Some teach, others take. Some care, some never had caring spilled into them,.. so they don’t. Some spill value while others degrade. Some had flavor and design spilled into them, others had none of that. Some of them had roast beef and some had none…..
Was there no design, no plan on how to pour specifically with measurable outcomes? Is there a void of directions on how this is done? Would it have made a difference if I was picked first or last on the playground? Would it have changed my ‘destiny’ if Mr. Parmalee helped me bring that math grade up( from an F to at least a C)? Would it have been any different if I was chosen for the Elks instead of the Lighthouse Trailer Park little league team? Who knows? I have no complaints or am I eager some 42 years later to seek my revenge on those who didn’t pick me or make me a priority in their process?
Are we any better at those things today? Have we stopped taking sides? I sadly think not.
In recent days, political and religious ideologies have polarized us against each other in hopes that their team will win. Spilling all sorts of extremely predictable and unkind statements regarding the ‘opposition’. I am of the mindset, that people know what they hate, more than what they like or love. So often I see the words on social media, ‘ I wish there was an unlike button”. Really? We have grown so cheaply in our behavior that there is such little kindness. There are very few people who don’t, in someway, push their agenda onto others. And if you aren’t taking sides, then you are labeled ignorant and will befall to what lies ahead as a victim.
Compromise. Is that the solution to taking sides? Resting in deference to a situation seems to be the only suitable or safe place for some. While others take charge and make taking sides a priority, developing a near hatred for the other side.
Jesus did not.
He saw that there was only one side, God’s side. A holy and righteous approach to everything and everyone. He honored and blessed. He picked the worse first. He sat and ate with whomever. He was no respecter of person or political party. He never hash-tagged trending topics, nor did he unlike anyone that didn’t see things the way he did. However, when it came to the things of God he never held back. Jesus was fully committed to what he came to earth to do – that is to seek and save the lost -basically everyone. Jesus never took the sides of men. His nature is not like ours. His proclivities and biases are not ours. His ways are not our ways. He is unique in that, he never says no to any of us.
The only side Jesus ever took was that of a Savior. He turned aside from his own position and became something he wasn’t designed for. He became sin, and became the sacrifice we needed to be saved.
I guess he did take sides,.. he took our side… when punishment for sin was on the line. he took our place. He is the only one ever to even offer it, ever. And he is to only one who did it just for you. He chose you! You should choose him back. His team never loses!
pkriskent 