Create Something Great From What You’ve Been Given 5-Day Reading PlanSample

Injuries and Great Audiences

I’d been asked to fill in for an injured player. Which is to say that someone had been hurt doing what I was being asked to do. That should have been warning enough. It was not. And that’s how I ended up with this story. 

My wife played soccer throughout her youth, into her high school years and well into college. As an adult, she played in the local rec league with a few friends. She is a talented player. 

On the other hand, my history with soccer is considerably different from my wife’s. I played the sport for only three years, all of them before I was seven. 

Even so, I played in that game. A teammate pushed the ball past me. I quickly formulated a plan to chase down the ball, lightly tap it with my foot, score a goal, and be carried off the field on the shoulders of my thankful teammates as they gleefully sang “We Are the Champions”!

And then it happened. I was injured while playing soccer. I’m told I was in the air for a long moment.  I don’t remember that. I’m also told I was upside down for most of that long moment in the air. I don’t remember that either. I do remember hitting the ground and feeling pain run from my shoulder, down my arm, and into my fingers.

At the hospital I was told I’d suffered a severe shoulder separation and I was also told to limit use of my left arm, which was going to be difficult since I was scheduled to be across the country in Philadelphia the next night playing a concert which normally requires the use of both arms. Much like the actual moment of injury, the next twenty-four hours remain hazy. I got from Oakland to Philadelphia, but I don’t remember much else about the trip—only fragments and snapshots. 

As the day progressed, my head cleared a bit. I sat on the edge of the stage while Amy wrapped my shoulder with athletic tape. 

The show in Philly did take place that night, but I don’t remember much. I know it wasn’t one of my best performances. One of the only clear memories I have of the night is forgetting the lyrics to a song. It wasn’t just any song either; it was a song I’d played in every show for the past year and one that my fans definitely expected me to play. I strummed and hoped the first words of the first line would come back to my mind.

That didn’t happen. As folks began to recognize I’d forgotten my own song, they started singing the song for me. Not with me; for me. Just a few voices at first, but eventually the majority of the room was singing while I accompanied them. 

When the lyrics to the last verse and chorus came back to me, I joined the audience and we finished the song together as a team. 

Jesus understood the importance of team. He chose twelve disciples to be part of his earthly ministry. You’ve likely heard or read the story about Jesus feeding thousands with just five loaves of bread and two fish. In this story, along with the disciples Jesus uses an unlikely teammember—a boy. Matthew and Luke tell us there was a preteen with a sack lunch involved who was kind enough to offer it when it appeared there wasn’t food for everyone. Jesus gathered the team together and gently led them to success.

The Lord took what that kid had on hand and did something truly remarkable with it. He took the boy’s ordinary lunch and made it into something miraculous. He can do the same with you!

Respond

1. Describe a time when you felt the loving support of people around you. 
2. What circumstances in your life have allowed you to experience the gentleness of the Savior?
3. Who in your life is experiencing a difficult time and needs not only your support, but the support of Jesus? Reach out to them and share his love.