Everyone Has A Team

Recently, I was listening to the fabulous leadership podcast from Andy Stanley. In this particular installment, he mentioned something about doing something "with your team" (as well as in every other episode, I'm sure) and I started thinking about the kids in my youth group... What would they say if they heard someone advising them to spend time learning from, being with, consulting with, brainstorming with their team? I quickly became mortified at the thought of one of them shrugging, flipping their hair out of their eyes and saying "I don't have a team." with a squint in their eye to fill in the rest of the statement..."What does that have to do with me?"

Even worse than all of that, I'm afraid that middle and high school students aren't the only ones who would be prone to that kind of reaction. Way too many of us who have...eh...put our school years behind us, per se... are completely clueless how statements about "team" have anything to do with us. You don't have to be a manager, supervisor, principal, director, etc. to have a team. You don't even have to be old enough to drive.

Everyone has a team, whether you know it or not. We all have people we talk things over with, people who are in a similar place in life, who face similar struggles, from whom we find strength. Co-workers, relatives, colleagues, our best friend from preschool... unfortunately, we don't often think of these people as being on our team, but if they are interested enough in your well-being to give you even a little bit of their time, they're on your team.

Clearly, not everyone will give you solid advice every time, and not everyone will even manage to steer you right most of the time (you know who I'm talking about). However, if you can think of 3-5 people, in whom you can truly place your trust, please allow me to make a suggestion.

Recognize the significance they have in your life and reach out to each of them to personally and officially invite them to be "on your team." It will be like having your own personal Board of Directors.

I know this kind of thing isn't for everyone and you can certainly live a pretty awesome life without following such advice, but if you do actually reach out to these folks and extend such an invitation, you can expect two things. One, they will be greatly flattered, honored, and humbled by your request. Its never a bad idea to do that for someone else. Second, you just might find them being more intentional in pouring into your life and helping push you to do greater things... which will never be bad for you.

I know there's a chance that you're not convinced and you still say you have no team. I still beg to differ... let me leave you with this...

In Hebrews 11, the writer expounds on all kinds of biblical heroes of faith... Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Noah... He tells their stories and drives home the point that their faith in God and in His intent to keep His promises to His people were the driving force behind all of the stories that made their lives so exceptional. Then, to begin chapter 12, the writer says this:

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

You may not be able to call up Moses or Abraham on the phone and talk things over with them, but, essentially, the writer is telling you that all of these saints who have gone on before us, those mentioned in scripture and the ones who aren't... including your grandmother and her sweet next door neighbor who always gave you a glass of sweet tea when you were outside playing...

They are all cheering for YOU.