Those who follow me on Facebook know that I spent yesterday night at a high school football game. This is Year 5 of our ongoing obligation to attend lots of high school football games. Our son is in the high school band, so we go to the games in order to see the band. This is like going to the opera in order to see your son move the sets.
This is Year 5 because his sister was also in the band. She is now in college, but we will (of course) have to attend one of their games this year as well. We do not have to go all the time, but we have to go sometime. Those of you who are parents will understand.
High school football games are interesting. The kids are not great football players. They do not run complex offensive schemes and defensive packages. They do not run fast or jump high or overwhelm you with their physicality. Little guys can play. The band is the same. They have formations and most of the students are pretty close to where they ought to be in the formation, although that varies. Last night, one band member lost his shoe and spent some time getting it back and throwing it off the field. They only play a couple of songs because they don't know their whole routine yet.
In short, this is not an event for the critical of heart. The football is played with a lot of energy, but not a lot of skill. The band plays, well, at a high school level. And the stadium is full.
I mean, really full. Last night's game even had the visitor's side full. People came from 35 miles away (the visiting school). They cheered and we cheered and the bands played and the players played and people paid to be part of it. We ate lukewarm hamburgers and drank sodas that were warm. And people loved it.
They loved watching their children play in the band and play on the field. They loved seeing each other and talking with friends and buying foolish souvenirs.
People are funny, aren't they? They do not love what we think they would love (quality play) but they love high school football. They eat and share and enjoy the time together, despite the poor quality on the field.
We need to think about this in our churches. We need to deal with who people really are, not who we think they ought to be.We need to preach to people who like high school football just as much as we preach to those who love theological details. We need to let people talk and visit and share.
It was a lousy game. There were fumbles and penalties and missed assignments and blown opportunities. In the last quarter, the home team made a great comeback and lost in the last two minutes. And a lot of people had a great time.
People are funny.
This is Year 5 because his sister was also in the band. She is now in college, but we will (of course) have to attend one of their games this year as well. We do not have to go all the time, but we have to go sometime. Those of you who are parents will understand.
High school football games are interesting. The kids are not great football players. They do not run complex offensive schemes and defensive packages. They do not run fast or jump high or overwhelm you with their physicality. Little guys can play. The band is the same. They have formations and most of the students are pretty close to where they ought to be in the formation, although that varies. Last night, one band member lost his shoe and spent some time getting it back and throwing it off the field. They only play a couple of songs because they don't know their whole routine yet.
In short, this is not an event for the critical of heart. The football is played with a lot of energy, but not a lot of skill. The band plays, well, at a high school level. And the stadium is full.
I mean, really full. Last night's game even had the visitor's side full. People came from 35 miles away (the visiting school). They cheered and we cheered and the bands played and the players played and people paid to be part of it. We ate lukewarm hamburgers and drank sodas that were warm. And people loved it.
They loved watching their children play in the band and play on the field. They loved seeing each other and talking with friends and buying foolish souvenirs.
People are funny, aren't they? They do not love what we think they would love (quality play) but they love high school football. They eat and share and enjoy the time together, despite the poor quality on the field.
We need to think about this in our churches. We need to deal with who people really are, not who we think they ought to be.We need to preach to people who like high school football just as much as we preach to those who love theological details. We need to let people talk and visit and share.
It was a lousy game. There were fumbles and penalties and missed assignments and blown opportunities. In the last quarter, the home team made a great comeback and lost in the last two minutes. And a lot of people had a great time.
People are funny.