This week's lede is written by Kelsey Schuster, Canon for Operations and Chief of Staff for The Episcopal Church in Minnesota (ECMN).

My 9 year old daughter signed up for baseball this year with her best friend. She’s never played before. She wasn’t quite sure how to put the glove on, much less how to hold the bat and where to run after a hit. The learning curve was going to be steep, but she seemed excited about it.

After the first practice, where we learned that Joss wasn’t the only one on the team that wasn’t quite sure how many bases there were and what outfield was, her coach instituted practice three times a week.

Ugh, in the middle of the summer, practice three times a week and games two other days of the week? It’s too much, we’re too busy, that’s never going to work, it’s SUMMER!

Sorry, that was me, not my kid. She, in fact, was excited. ‘Do we have baseball tonight?’ Almost every day, the answer to that question was ‘yep’.

We were lucky enough to be paired with quite possibly the best coach I’ve ever been around. Coach Buck is exactly the type of person you want in your kids’ life. When I say he has a love for the game, I mean, he probably spends most of his spare mental space thinking of plays to run with the kids, which kid needs extra practice on what type of skill, and what he’s going to do about the kid who’s getting down on himself.

Coach has this magical blend of joy and love for the game and a fundamental expectation that each kid can be better, can do better. And he doesn’t expect excellence just in throwing and hitting and catching - he expects excellence in how you run onto the field when you’re playing defense, how you cheer your team on and show sportsmanship, how you treat the equipment and how you act in the dugout. It all matters, the game includes every little bit of it, and just being able to play well doesn’t make you a good player, doesn’t make you a team that can win.

Watching coach get frustrated with them when they didn’t meet that standard, I thought, gosh, those kids are just going to check out. But actually, the exact opposite happened. Somehow they knew he wasn’t frustrated with them because they were bad, he was frustrated with them because they could be better. They knew he didn’t want them to be better for his ego or just because he wanted to win (though to be clear, he really wanted to win), he wanted them to be better because he loved the game, and he wanted them to love the game too. He wanted them to be better because he knew there’s nothing better than playing a game really well. Whether you win or lose, knowing what to do and doing it well, making the big play, working together as a team, there’s just nothing better.

This is the point in my reflection where you should be saying ‘this is great, but what do you want me to do, turn 9 years old and play with the North Commons Bulldogs next summer?’ I mean, you should be so lucky, but, our experience with coach’s joyful rigor on the field has felt like a metaphor for me that relates to our call as followers of Jesus in this time.

What if there was a way to be joyfully rigorous in my prayer life and in community with others? What if I approached my faith practices like on field workouts, recognizing that I needed to work at the fundamentals of my faith if I want to be able to practice them when it’s hard and the pressure is on? What would it mean to expect something of myself and others, to expect growth and transformation as a natural part of this journey of following Jesus?

Like practicing in the rain or the heat and humidity, it might be uncomfortable and hard, but doing it when it’s hard matters. Doing the small things like reading my Bible in the morning even when I’m tired, finding ways to pray about things that have me all tangled up in my spirit, giving and showing love in ways that truly cost me something, doing all of this with excellence matters. It’s all part of the game. And finding a Coach Buck, who’s going to expect something of me and, in that expectation, help me see a reality where I CAN grow and transform, where I CAN become more loving, more patient, more kind, may be essential to this journey as well.

I wonder what joyful rigor looks like for you in your walk with Jesus these days. Reach out and let me know!

Happy summer, y’all, and Let’s Go BULLDOGS!!

Tags: Joy, Expectations

This week's lede is written by Karen Olson, Canon for Ministry.


Here am I! Send me!

I always get a lump in my throat when I hear this plea in Scripture. There is something so audacious, so humbling, and yet so filled with confidence about it.

You might think back to elementary school, when there were those in the classroom squirming in their chairs, and waving their hand in the air..."Oooo pick me, pick me, pick me! I know the answer!" And then those slinking in their seats, willing the teacher to literally not see them and render them invisible.

What if we take that memory (that I'm guessing many of you can relate to), and picture yourself sitting in front of God?

God: I gave you some significant gifts - have you figured out what they are?

Me: Well, I'm really not all that good at anything. I mean, thank you for giving me gifts, but I'm not really worthy.

God: Do you think I wouldn't have given them to you if I didn't think you could do them?

Me: Yes, ok. I get that. And thanks again! Well, you gave me the gift to see other people as they are and to love them, even when it's hard.

God: Very good. And I need you to do that. Today. Tomorrow. Next week. Next year and as long as you live. What else do you see in you that I need you to do?

Me: There's more?!

God: (light chuckle) Yes, my beloved, there's so much more.

Me: How do I know? I don't want to be one of those people that says, "Ooo pick me, pick me, pick me!"

God: (sigh) My child, I need you. Your friends and family need you. How about if I give you a little homework. I want you to say your prayers every morning and ask, "How can I see Jesus in someone else today?" And then spend the day looking - really looking - because Jesus is absolutely everywhere. Before you go to sleep, tell me in your prayers. "I saw Jesus in..."

Me: (wondering)..........

God: The more you see Jesus in others, the more you will see Jesus inside of you. And then you will see your gifts tucked inside and you will know how I need you to use them.

Me: (with quiet confidence) Ok. Here am I. Send me.

Tags: gifts, Prayer