I grew up playing football. I was the center. I was big. I could do long snaps. I could follow instructions. I don’t remember volunteering. I think, on the first day of practice, I was assigned the job.
Each summer, in late August and early September my fingers feel like little needles are attacking them whenever I think of football. We practiced in an open lot. There were no goals, no sidelines, just a relatively flat area. It was covered with sticker burrs. We ran through them. We did up and downs in them. Our shoes and socks were filled with them. The football got covered with them. As the center, it was my job to protect the quarterback. I had to pick the stickers out of the ball before I hiked it to the quarterback. At the end of practice each day my fingers would be numb from all the jabs. I really hate stickers.
I saw a patch of them this week and it caused me to be back in the 4th grade and it filled me with dread. How can something 50 years ago feel so present today? Have you ever had to absorb the pain of a group? Have you been blamed for something you did not do, but for which you were responsible? Have you ever paid the price for something others did?
This is the way and life of a leader. It’s what happened to Jesus. He invites us into the costly path of serving others. It will mean that we do for others, serve others, and help others at our own expense. It will mean that we have sore fingers and aching muscles, but a free conscience. I remember taking great pride in cleaning the football. I don’t think I ever handed off a ball that was not clean.
If there is a job you are dreading, or a responsibility you are neglecting, then it is time to get to the good work of serving others. You will feel good about it later. Do the hard work now.