Two weeks ago our staff had another fun day of play! I was having technical issues and wasn’t able to upload the video until now!
So to play this game: Each team divides their members into groups of 2. So two from Team Christiano compete against two from Valiant Soldiers. Both groups stand on one end of the cafeteria. One person is blindfolded in each group. We placed two $4 bills in the cafeteria. Their partner must direct their blindfolded team member to the money using only their voice. The first one to reach the $4.00 bill gets to keep it AND the $4.00 bill that was for the other team!
Anytime you bring money out – even if it’s a quarter – there’s potential for conflict! One of the things that we are learning is how to cheer for the other team even if we lose. We are learning as a staff – how to die to our “rights”.
We (as people) all have rights. We have the right to be heard, to be understood, to have a family, to say anything we want, to pursue happiness…..the list could go on and on forever.
Anger is our reaction when we feel our rights are being taken from us. We get angry about not getting what we think we deserve. We get angry when our rights feel threatened. But God is calling us to die to these rights.
Luke 6:28-30 Living Bible (TLB)
28 Pray for the happiness of those who curse you; implore God’s blessing on those who hurt you.
29 “If someone slaps you on one cheek, let him slap the other too! If someone demands your coat, give him your shirt besides. 30 Give what you have to anyone who asks you for it; and when things are taken away from you, don’t worry about getting them back.
This is the part that is so hard and seems so crazy. We are to love those who hate us. We are to be giving to those who don’t appreciate us.
I believe in these moments where we are asked to do what seems impossible….God is asking us –
Do you trust me?
Do you trust me when I ask you to step out on faith?
Do you trust me when what I’m asking you costs you something?
Do you trust me when obeying ME is so painful?
Galatians 2:20 Living Bible (TLB)
20 I have been crucified with Christ: and I myself no longer live, but Christ lives in me. And the real life I now have within this body is a result of my trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
There have been many times this year where I have felt cheated, hurt, anxious…..that the things I had to deal with were unfair. Then I felt God tell me – you’re right. You don’t’ deserve this life. You deserve hell and death. But I am gracious and I provided a savior who died for you. He didn’t deserve death and we don’t deserve life. It’s ONLY by God’s grace that we have life at all.
Do you see how those simple words switch us from disappointment to hope? From anger to gratitude? Our perspectives must shift for us to find freedom. The way we view our lives must shift. The way we view people must shift.
Maybe we feel like we’re walking around blindfolded – kind of like the game our staff just played today. But even when it’s scary – even when it feels dark and you’re lost and don’t know which way to go – – there’s a voice desperate to direct us. We just have to stop, be silent, & listen.
We just have to surrender. No really – surrender. God is calling us to surrender our rights. I have been crucified with Christ: and I myself no longer live, but Christ lives in me. We are to die to ourselves and live as Christ. God is calling us to stop protesting when we feel like life isn’t fair or our rights are being violated. That doesn’t mean people can abuse you & you allow that to continue. Please don’t take it to that dangerous level.
It means you cheer for the other team even if you deserved to win. It means you stop the pettiness, jealousy, fighting, bitterness, anger, and frustration because you feel like you got dealt a bad hand. God is asking us to stop the madness – – literally stop being mad……live as He would…..and as the song says…..Let It Go….Let it Go…..
