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Ramblin' Dan
Dan Roloff is the editor of TheHighCalling.org, and his blog, Ramblin’ Dan, has a little bit of everything. At times, a theologian, philosopher, comedian, publisher, sports enthusiast, and businessman, Dan offers a transparent look at the high calling of one man’s work.
subscribe to this blog >Building Community, A Lesson Learned
5.7.09
The next week of practice was a challenge. We plugged in new starters and tried to focus the attention of the remaining players. The varsity head coach came to me late in the week to talk about the upcoming game. He said, “Don’t get too down about this, Dan. Last year, as freshmen, our guys lost to this team 36-0.” That was a pep talk I didn’t need. But I knew he was just trying to prepare me for a difficult game and a difficult season.
During the game, the guys remained focused and kept the game close. We were losing 8-0 in the final minute when our opponent decided to take a safety and get a free kick from their twenty-yard line. That gave us two points. This really energized our team who proceeded to take the free kick and run it back deep into the opponent’s end of the field. On the final play of the game, we scored a touchdown! Although we missed the extra point, the game ended in a tie.
On the bus, I told the team I was glad we missed the extra point, and the game ended in a tie. “We can learn more from a tie than a win here. Everyone counted us out of this game. No one believed, except the guys on this bus. It may not be a win on the scoreboard, but you guys came together and overcame the odds to tie this game. You are winners.”
I didn’t have the understanding of community then that I have now, but that group of young men taught me about community. When I think back at their achievement, I shake my head at what that group did together. I’m thankful that I was part of it, and I learned that a group pulling together for one common goal can overcome obstacles to achieve great things.
For me, sports have always served as a point of reflection when thinking about community. Team sports provide plenty of examples, both healthy and unhealthy.
Unhealthy stuff causes division in community. Flaunting team rules; taunting teammates; being unfocused, undisciplined, and self-centered are unhealthy actions that cause fissures in the bond among teammates.
Healthy community stems from trust. Encouraging teammates, respecting the team, and being dependable are the disciplines of healthy community.
Jesus says, "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another" (John 13:34). The epistles repeat this theme from Romans through the Second Letter of John. Follow this link to see a list of verses where this is repeated.
So as we build community, we look to love one another. That’s what healthy communities do.
NOTE: This post is part of the May WILF project . Robert Hruzek hosts the WILF (What I Learned From) writing challenge for bloggers each month. Many of the posts come from the High Calling Blogs Network where Robert is an active member. This month, Robert challenged us to write on what we learned from community.
READER'S COMMENTS
I never really thought about a team as a community. Maybe because it's transient? But then that raises questions about community... how long must it be together to begin to be regarded as community? Is time an issue? Proximity? Goals? (What about the guy who wants to eat popcorn and just watch the game... does he count too?)
L.L..great questions. I hope someone might answer them better than I. But here's what I know of teams as a community. It's a group brought together for a common purpose. There are shared values, a commraderie that binds the group together, and a striving together to achieve that common purpose.
If it's a healthy team the onds can be very strong and last a lifetime even if the formal team is only together for a few months. If it's not healthy things can fall apart quickly and any commonlity gets forgotten quickly.
I'd be willing to venture that for many males in the US being part of a high school, college, or professional team is about the best sense of community that they've ever had.
Excellent lessons, Dan! There's practically no end to the great things we learn by being part of a sports team of some kind - but I gotta admit, thinking of one as a community is a new one on me! But you're right; there's lot's of good parallels here.
Hey, tip o' the hat for the WILF entry!
We recently lived through a similar incident, however in the arts instead of football. The remaining kids had to pull together and put on a show with several leads replaced on very short notice. They did, and the lessons learned about what was actually possible when life throws you a curve will probably last a long time.
It's nice to know your team had the tie to show for their efforts. But I imagine even if the score had been nasty great lessons would have been learned about trying even when things seem hopeless.
I agree with you Fred. The important emphasis within communities is healthy relationships. Because specific success can be fleeting and distracting, our focus on building and sustaining healthy relationships within the community is paramount.