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Cal's Pastoral Epistles
"Winning Is A Team Thing"
January 31, 2007
The headline read, "Who can beat this team?" What followed was an article
about the New England Patriots. Unlike many articles in the preceding
weeks that focused on the charm of superstar quarterback Tom Brady, the
electrifying catches of wide receiver Randy Moss, the coaching genius of
Bill Bellachick or the punishing play of Richard Seymour, this article
chronicled instances where players and coaches alike put egos aside and
came together with a common goal.
As a pastor I like the old saying "There is no "I" in team." The New
England Patriots personify this type of thinking. Of course you need talent,
but in order to succeed in team sports you also need to play together. On
winning teams people embrace their roles and work as a unit to achieve
success. Great teams go 18-0, not great players.
I was reading an article a few weeks ago about my favorite Detroit Tiger,
Alan Trammell. I have lived vicariously through Alan since he came up to
the big leagues as a scrawny nineteen year old back in 1977 because he
and I are the same age. Tram was a spark plug on the Tiger teams of the
1980's and a great player. When he retired in 1996 he joined Ty Cobb and
Al Kaline as the only Tigers to spend twenty years with the team. Tram
was not a flashy player but his statistics put him among the best
shortstops to ever play the game. He was the 1984 World Series Most
Valuable Player and runner up for the league MVP in 1987.
This year he was up for election to the Baseball Hall of Fame for the sixth
time. When the results were announced earlier this month only Goose
Gossage was elected. When Trammell was asked about the Hall of Fame,
he suggested that getting in would be nice but not making it wouldn't be
the end of the world.
Tram is best known for being part of the longest running double play
combination in the history of the baseball. He and Lou Whitaker played
1918 games side by side in the Tiger infield. As Alan looked back at his
career, he said it was never about individual awards or accomplishments.
He said he learned to play the game as a team player. He noted that any
success he enjoyed was only because he played on some great teams.
Funny, but that sounds a lot like what a few of the New England players
are saying as well.
The same is true for us as we seek to serve the Lord. Not every can be a
Billy Graham or Joel Osteen. Most of us will never be famous or make
headlines for our Christian service, but our work as members of the
church makes a difference. When we work side by side with friends at the
soup kitchen, or attend a rally to fight for affordable health care, or when
we are part of a Sunday School staff that is teaching the love of God to
children, we are part of God's Hall of Fame team.
The apostle Paul reminded us that we all have a role to play. Like the
different parts of the body that come together to form a whole, our
faithfulness to God's call to serve in the church is part of something much
bigger and greater. In working together as a team, using our gifts and
abilities to the utmost, we glorify God and give Him the victory.
I don't know who will win the Superbowl on Sunday. Both teams have
some great players. I suspect that when the final whistle blows it will be
the better "team" that wins. So enjoy the game and root for your favorite
team. "Go team, go!"
God bless! See you in church. Cal.
January 31, 2007
The headline read, "Who can beat this team?" What followed was an article
about the New England Patriots. Unlike many articles in the preceding
weeks that focused on the charm of superstar quarterback Tom Brady, the
electrifying catches of wide receiver Randy Moss, the coaching genius of
Bill Bellachick or the punishing play of Richard Seymour, this article
chronicled instances where players and coaches alike put egos aside and
came together with a common goal.
As a pastor I like the old saying "There is no "I" in team." The New
England Patriots personify this type of thinking. Of course you need talent,
but in order to succeed in team sports you also need to play together. On
winning teams people embrace their roles and work as a unit to achieve
success. Great teams go 18-0, not great players.
I was reading an article a few weeks ago about my favorite Detroit Tiger,
Alan Trammell. I have lived vicariously through Alan since he came up to
the big leagues as a scrawny nineteen year old back in 1977 because he
and I are the same age. Tram was a spark plug on the Tiger teams of the
1980's and a great player. When he retired in 1996 he joined Ty Cobb and
Al Kaline as the only Tigers to spend twenty years with the team. Tram
was not a flashy player but his statistics put him among the best
shortstops to ever play the game. He was the 1984 World Series Most
Valuable Player and runner up for the league MVP in 1987.
This year he was up for election to the Baseball Hall of Fame for the sixth
time. When the results were announced earlier this month only Goose
Gossage was elected. When Trammell was asked about the Hall of Fame,
he suggested that getting in would be nice but not making it wouldn't be
the end of the world.
Tram is best known for being part of the longest running double play
combination in the history of the baseball. He and Lou Whitaker played
1918 games side by side in the Tiger infield. As Alan looked back at his
career, he said it was never about individual awards or accomplishments.
He said he learned to play the game as a team player. He noted that any
success he enjoyed was only because he played on some great teams.
Funny, but that sounds a lot like what a few of the New England players
are saying as well.
The same is true for us as we seek to serve the Lord. Not every can be a
Billy Graham or Joel Osteen. Most of us will never be famous or make
headlines for our Christian service, but our work as members of the
church makes a difference. When we work side by side with friends at the
soup kitchen, or attend a rally to fight for affordable health care, or when
we are part of a Sunday School staff that is teaching the love of God to
children, we are part of God's Hall of Fame team.
The apostle Paul reminded us that we all have a role to play. Like the
different parts of the body that come together to form a whole, our
faithfulness to God's call to serve in the church is part of something much
bigger and greater. In working together as a team, using our gifts and
abilities to the utmost, we glorify God and give Him the victory.
I don't know who will win the Superbowl on Sunday. Both teams have
some great players. I suspect that when the final whistle blows it will be
the better "team" that wins. So enjoy the game and root for your favorite
team. "Go team, go!"
God bless! See you in church. Cal.
Pastor Cal Lord writes these weekly epistles to
help us see God in every day things.
help us see God in every day things.
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