Pastor's Corner: Breaking away from the huddle

As football season is upon us, picture a football team that gets together and one of the players says, “You know guys, our huddles are so good. I have a plan that will ensure that I never leave the huddle. I am just going to stay in the huddle the whole game, because when I try to break the huddle and get on the field, people keep trying to tackle me, block me and hurt me, but the huddle is safe. It’s warm. We can stay close in the huddle and motivate one another.”

Now, if a football team never broke a huddle, what kind of a record would they have? The huddle is not supposed to be the end in itself. The whole idea is for the team to get together for encouragement and then get back into the game. When a game is urgent and everything is on the line while time is running out, teams will get into a no huddle offense.

A lot of people look at churches and see a big huddle. They see people huddle week after week. Their goal is to have a great huddle, stay close in the huddle, and pray in the huddle. Unbeknown to the masses, sometimes the people in the huddle are arguing about the music the marching band should play, how loud the music should be and what should be worn in the huddle. Should people stand or sit in the huddle? How many women are allowed in the huddle? And all the while, the world is watching and couldn’t care how good our huddles are. What the world wants to know is, will someone get in the game? Will they really care about the poor? Will they give of their resources? Will they love the downcast? Will I be welcome if I ever enter the door of their church? Will they love people who have aids and do something about it? Will they really contain authentic joy that is contagious? Will they do business without cheating? Will my teenage daughter be safe? Will my son who is in a same-sex relationship be welcome? Are they really in the game, or are they just good at staying in the huddle?

There are a lot of groups that are good in the huddle, but are not having significant impact in the world. God’s plan for your life has always been for you to belong to a good huddle. Then break away from the huddle, and get into the game.

The Samaritan woman in John Chapter 4 met Jesus at a watering well, then went and told half the people in her city about her encounter. With the same comfort she received, she was able to comfort others. She got into the game of life. The goal is to come to the well, be encouraged, and go out into the world and encourage others. In life the more you give, the more you receive, and that is not just finances, but includes friendship, encouragement, energy and time.

One college professor stood in front of his college biology class of about 30 students. He thanked them for their hard work and told them, “I know that you have all worked hard. I am willing to cut you some slack in your final exam. I am willing to give you two choices. I can automatically give you all B’s, or you can sit for the final exam.” There was applause and a sigh of relief as the student’s clamored to get their automatic B’s, but the professor noticed that seven students had remained behind. After closing the door and taking attendance, the professor handed out the final exam which had two sentences that sated, “Congratulations! You have just earned yourself an A.”

It is only those who believe in themselves and their dreams that are willing to break away from the huddle. If the Apostle Paul were alive, he may have said, “I may win the lottery ticket but the greatest prize is to be everything that God predestined for me to be.” One of the ways that God encourages us to break away from the huddle is through our dream or God-ordained purpose.

The works of God were finished before the foundations of the earth were created. A car is completed when it is still in the design room. Jeremiah felt inadequate and made excuses as to why God could not use him, but God said to him, “I knew you while you were still in your mother’s womb.” God breathed in you all that you need to succeed. You have potential, purpose that is waiting to be used. It is an unwrapped gift. In one seed is a forest. In every fish is a school of fish. In every bird is a flock of birds. God loves to hide His promises in the most unlikely places. God hid a nation in Abraham. He hid the great, great grandmother of David in a prostitute named Rehab. He hid one of the greatest judges of Israel in a murderer by the name of Moses. He hid the Messiah in a manger. He hid victory behind the cross. He hid a governor behind an ex-con by the name of Joseph. Something is hidden in you. It’s bigger than you! But you have to be willing to break away from the huddle, risk getting hurt and rejected, and get in the game of life.

Read and take to heart these words from an unknown author:

I bargained with life for a penny, and life gave me no more.

Though I begged in the evening, the lock was fixed on the door.

For life is a just employer, and it gives you whatever you ask

But once you set the wages, you must bear the tasks.

So I earned only a menial hire, later to learn dismayed

That any wage I would have asked of life, life would have gladly paid.

If we do not expect much of life, we will not get much out of life. We should not settle for a penny, but set our standards and expectations based on God’s Word and commit to them. Perhaps we want to get out of debt, have a better marriage, lose weight, read our bible more frequently, or simply live a more prayerful life. Our goals could be to travel or to be a better husband/wife. All these are noble goals that unfortunately cannot be fulfilled in the huddle. It takes a willingness to take healthy risks and get into the game of life. Will you get in the game of life?

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Pastor Munya and Lori Takawira

Havre Community Alliance Church