I love going to watch the Orlando Magic play. There is just something about being in the Amway Center, sitting among fans that, win or lose, are fans for life. My favorite thing to do though, is watch the guys on the bench.
Call me crazy or weird...tell me "that's not where the action is" until you're Magic blue in the face (see what I did there??), but it is and will always be my favorite thing. There's no changing my mind, so stop trying. On the bench you will see players that are injured or not playing for whatever reason or huffing and puffing after just coming off the court.
The thing that sticks out to me is they may be injured and out of breath, but they are always cheering on their teammates. Always.
A bad call is made by the ref, they're all out of their seats yelling. Someone scores, they're jumping up and down for joy. They're talking to each other, smiling, giving secret handshakes...they're being family.
I know it's basketball...and these are giant (quite literally to my 5'3 self) men...sweaty and gross. But there is something so beautiful about it. Something so grand that it reminds me of how the Body of Christ should be. I'm not always great at cheering on fellow believers. In a highly competitive world, we forget that as the Body of Christ...
we. are. family.
We should act like it. Give secret handshakes. Get mad at injustice against a brother or sister. Rejoice in the successes of our family. We weren't called to go at life alone. We are part of a team.
It doesn't matter if your injured, or just out of the game for awhile, or playing with all your heart, you are still part of a family and have a very specific role to play.
The Orlando Magic could lose every game from here on out (which I'm hoping they don't!) and I would still love going to games. Rain or shine, win or lose, this girl is an Orlando Magic fan for life. And you know why? Because I feel like I'm part of something when I'm there. Part of a family.
I feel the same way being with fellow believers. I know and feel like I am part of something bigger. Something greater. God didn't promise an easy, pain free life, but He did give us a family...a team, for support and encouragement. He knew there would be days we couldn't make it on our own. A basketball player can hardly win a game by himself...such is true for us as Christians. So, I thank you, Orlando Magic, for reminding me that I'm part of your family, but greater than that, part of the beautiful family of God...for which there is no greater gift.
