Whatever Team Gets Off the Bus

There once was a wise football coach, a woman coach, who prided herself on the fact that she prepared her team for anything. She wasn’t big on scouting other teams and strategizing till dawn. Her philosophy was simple, yet profound. She told her boys, “We practice every day, we eat well, and we get plenty of rest, so we are ready and prepared to play whatever team gets off that bus.”

Hmm…

Isn’t that wise advice for our lives too! No matter how we try to control things and plan for the future, in the end we have to play whatever team gets off the bus. What team have you been forced to play against – the cancer team, the divorce team, the unemployment team, or the chronic pain team? We can’t control what adversaries we face in our lives but we can control how we prepare for them. We have to practice our trust and faith in God. Work our spiritual muscles daily through prayer. Be well fed by the body of Christ in the Eucharist and get plenty of rest in Him who says, “Come to me all who are burdened and I will give you rest.” If we do that consistently, we’ll be in great shape to face whatever team gets off that bus.

Scripture Verses:

2 Chronicles 20:15
And he said, “Listen, all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem and King Jehoshaphat: thus says the Lord to you, “Do not fear or be dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours but God’s.”

Isaiah 26:3-4
A nation of firm purpose you keep in peace; in peace, for its trust in you. Trust in the Lord forever! For the Lord is an eternal Rock.

Discussion Questions:

1. What is one of the greatest challenges you have had to face?
2. How can you begin today to prepare for future challenges?
3. When faced with adversity, what is your first reaction?
4. How has God been your rock?
5. How do you “train” your children so they can be ready for any team that gets off the bus?

Listen