The Spirit of Upward: Would You Hesitate?

Alan Chandler (webmaster coolspring.org)
 

     Have you ever wanted to do something or to say something, but you hesitated?  Once that golden opportunity is past, it is past, and there may or may not be a similar opportunity in the future.  Here I am talking about decisions that we make on a minute to minute, day to day basis, rather than reflex actions.  It is a reflex to slam on the breaks to avoid a car accident.  It is a reflex to try to catch something that is falling.  It is very hard to not perform a reflex action, even when the reflex action is not in our best interest, such as swerving into oncoming traffic to avoid a deer.

     However, we often mull over decisions in our life and hesitate with indecisiveness.  These could involve major decisions, such as whether or not to accept a job opportunity, or whether or not to leave an unfulfilling job.  These can be decisions about relationships and our families.  These can also be small opportunities, such as saying a kind word to a friend or a child, or helping someone in physical need.  Hesitation to accept opportunities as they arise can lead to missed opportunities.  We should pray for ongoing guidance from God to help us to make wise decisions about opportunities in our lives.

     The example that follows comes from a March 4, 2006 Upward Basketball game at Mechanicsville Baptist Church between the Lynx and the Sun - two 3rd grade girl teams.  If anyone has watched 3rd through 5th grade girls play basketball, they would agree that the girls are extremely competitive, to say the least.  Any ball not in motion for more than a few seconds will be swarmed upon by members of both teams, leading to numerous jump-ball calls.  The girls play with a great intensity and concentration, yet they enjoy the game and are very courteous to other players, coaches, and referees.

     During the game between the Lynx and the Sun, one girl had just brought the ball across half-court, and was dribbling at a moderate pace toward the spectator sideline.  Somehow her defender got tangled up with her, or there was some un-intentional contact, and the defending player fell down and was hurt when she hit the ground.  No foul was called on either player.  The girl dribbling the ball took a few steps and looked back, after realizing that she was not being covered by her defender.  She saw her opponent lying on the ground in pain, and no whistle had yet been blown by the referee.  What would you do in this situation?

• Would you hesitate, not knowing what to do, or what the best thing to do would be?
   

• Would you wait for the referee to blow the whistle stopping play, and then walk over to see if the hurt girl was all right, and then give her a hand to help her up?
   

• Would you pass the ball to another player on your team, and then go over to the hurt girl?
   

• Since you are not being covered by a defender, would you make a quick run at the basket before the whistle was blown?
   

• Would you dribble the ball back to the hurt girl, not losing possession of the ball and yet still checking on the hurt girl?
   

• Would you worry that a foul was going to be called on you, or that you will get in trouble because the girl was hurt?
   

• Would you feel mad at the hurt girl for making you look bad?
   

• Would you hesitate?

     Knowing myself, I would probably stand in place for a few seconds, look around to see what everybody else was doing, and then go over to the girl after the whistle was blown to help her up.  What actually happened that day surprised me enough to write this devotional.  It also surprised many of the spectators, as evidenced by a few gasps from the crowd.

     . . . Again, the hurt girl was lying on the ground, no whistle had been blown, and the girl with the ball had looked back, and she saw the hurt girl on the ground.

• She did not hesitate.  The girl dribbling the ball acted as fast as a reflex, taking no time to ponder all of the considerations listed above.  She knew what was important.  She turned on a dime, and immediately reversed her course back to the hurt girl, with exactly the same intensity that 3rd grade girls play basketball.
   

• What about the ball?  The ball she was dribbling bounced off in the exact same direction and speed that she was originally traveling.  She simply let go of it and didn't look back to see where it went.  She went one way, and the ball continued on the other way.  No time was taken to stop, slow down, or pass the ball.  The ball went thump, thump, thump, and then rolled out of bounds unattended.  The game and all of its intensity, and the highly coveted possession of the ball, became of no importance.  What was important was the girl who was hurt.
   

• Did she help the hurt girl get back up?  Actually, she didn't right away.  She sprinted about 10 feet over to the hurt girl, sliding the last few feet as she dropped down to her knees to be next to her.  She slid the last few feet on her bare knees, to be right next to her hurt opponent, to see if she was all right and to comfort her.  Basically, the girl's actions were radically fast and decisive, and she was by the hurt girl before anyone could determine what was happening.

     Eventually the hurt girl was able to get back up and play, and the game continued on.
 

The Spirit of Upward

The mission of the Upward Basketball League is to develop character in every player by providing an equal opportunity for improvement, while stressing sportsmanship in every situation.

Based on the situation above, I would say that this mission has succeeded, and more.

The behavior of the girl is Christ-like in many ways:

 

 

 

• Christ did not hesitate to die for us.  When the appointed time came for Christ to die, He did not run to delay death.  He did not worry that the teaching of his disciples might not be complete, or that He might need to perform more miracles.  Before the day of his crucifixion, Christ prayed

,

"...yet not my will, but yours be done.” An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him.  And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.”  - Luke 22:42-44

"After Jesus said this, he looked toward heaven and prayed:
'Father, the time has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you.'" - John 17:1
 

• Christ knew the importance of the sacrifice of his life for ours, and He had done nothing wrong!  Christ became focused on our salvation, and on His love for us. 
  
  "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. " - John 3:16-17
   

• Christ endured the pain, suffering, and humiliation of the scourging and crucifixion on our behalf.  He was not concerned with His own dignity and well being.
  
  "And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death— even death on a cross!" - Philippians 2:8
  
  "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us."
  - Romans 5:8
   

     Maybe there is something that you have hesitated to do.  Maybe you have thought about joining a church or Sunday School class, but have hesitated.  Maybe you have thought about taking on an opportunity of service, but have hesitated.  Maybe you have even though about accepting Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, but have hesitated.

     Remember the girl in the basketball game who didn't hesitate, and remember Christ who didn't hesitate to die for us.

Online Upward 2006 Devotionals from Other Weeks:

Click Here to Read Previous Online Devotionals