Going Through The Motions

When Kristina turned 11 she decided that she wanted to play softball. Most of her friends played and she just didn't see what the big deal was. After begging for a few days, Shane and I finally gave in and agreed to let her play. The reason Shane and I had to do some serious thinking was because Kristina, even though she is so talented in many areas of her life, well, she isn't very athletic nor is she coordinated (especially at 11).

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After signing her up practice started almost immediately. She was so excited her first day of practice. She was all but bouncing in the car on the way to the park. She had her brand new glove, cleats tied in double knots and even made us buy her a pair of socks that came all the way up to her knees with the "cool stripes" down the side. She looked the part!

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After the coach talked to all the girls he started going through practice drills. This is when Kristina learned what softball was about. She practiced batting and hit nothing. They would throw her the ball and she would squeal and duck down to the ground. When asked to throw the ball she threw, well, like a girl. I sat in the stands all but chuckling because all these girls (and the coach) were taking this so serious but Kristina was there to have fun. She wasn't into batting, throwing or catching. She wanted to look cool and have fun with her friends.

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After practice we got into the car and she looked at me and began to tell me how she wanted to quit. Softball just wasn't going to be her thing she explained.

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"Well, you can't quit" I said. "You aren't a quitter. You made a commitment to play on this team and you will play the entire season. You don't have to play next year but this year, you play!"

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She huffed, rolled her eyes and rode home with her arms folded across her chest. You know, that scare tactic that kids have?!?! (haha)

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As the season wore on Kristina didn't get any better. They put her in the outfield and she would kick the dirt, pick flowers, watch birds fly by and only clapped when she noticed that everyone in the park was clapping but her. I got the biggest kick out of watching her.

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Kristina "looked" the part by wearing her uniform, pulling her hair up, wearing the sun visor, and having dusty cleats but she was just going through the motions. Her heart wasn't in the game. Sometimes we do that as Christians. We go to church, teach the class, sit in the pew, smile and greet other members, but we don't have the passion for the game. We show up and look the part but we never get involved to the point that it becomes a part of who we are.

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It says in Isaiah 49:6 "I will also make you a light...that you may bring my salvation to the ends of the earth." Have you ever noticed that if a light bulb isn't working at capacity you can't really see? Oh it shines, a little. It gives you just enough so you can make it through but you have to struggle and squint your eyes to really see what you're looking at. You know the light bulb is there because you can see it lit up but at the same time you know that it isn't glowing with it's full potential.

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Are you glowing at full potential? Are you just going through the motions?