Clay in the Hands

If you live in west Texas, then this is a special day.  What’s so special you may ask?

High school football.

Even if you don’t live in Texas, as long as you live in the America, high school football is a big deal.  BUT . . . if you live in west Texas – it’s a huge deal!

People take off work early to travel hours to watch 16, 17 and 18 year olds put on pads and take the field.  Car windows (or in west Texas – truck windows) are covered in shoe polish with encouraging words and images to spur their teams to do their best.  The fields are prepped and ready for action.  The fans fill the stands and get settled in anticipation of the kick off.  Everyone is wearing their school colors and waving flags and pom poms.  And usually their is that one really annoying person with the propane tank full of rocks sitting right behind you – shaking that thing incessantly – to the point that you want to take it and . . .  but I digress.

The point is, Friday nights in west Texas have become THE community event.  People who would not really socialize on any other day of the week, sit side by side on Friday night for a common cause – to cheer their team on.

How cool would it be if that same sense of community could be found at church?  Think about it – people from all socio-economic backgrounds, from all parts of town, from all different races – coming together for one common purpose – to worship, learn and grow together.

So today, here is my challenge for each of us: head out to support your local team this evening.  As you sit in the stands, take a look around and then offer this prayer:  Lord God, may my church become a place for community that far surpasses what I see here tonight – and use me to make that happen!