I played Basketball every available year I could in school. Starting in third grade I played on a school team. Before third grade I was part of a prestigious group called the “Little Dribblers”. We would come out at half time during the high school basketball games and do dribbling drills. We thought we were big stuff.
All through elementary school we would have a dinner or a banquet at the end of the basketball season. During this time the coach would say some nice things about us and trophies would be given out. Not just he best or most valuable would receive trophies but every player would get one. Looking back now I see how much effort it took for the coaches to come up with reasons to give us trophies. They had the obvious one such as the “Best Defensive Player” but they also had the “Hustle Award” for the one most likely to fall down during a play.
I will never forget the trophy I received at the end of my third grade basketball season. As the coach announced my name and I waited for what my new claim to fame would be I had dreams of getting the “Most Likely to Slam Dunk by 5th Grade Trophy”. However, after Coach York said my name I came up to receive the “Most Improved Player” trophy. You would have thought I would have been rejoicing my hard worked payed off. However, I knew and all the kids on the team knew that was the trophy for the kid who not only improved the most but had the most improving needed.
I was (some would say “am) an awkward kid. Watching video tapes of me playing basketball that year will see me hiding behind kids or treating the ball like a hot potato. After that year I resolved to never get that trophy again. I began to work hard at being the “best … well anything”.
As I think about those days and think about some of the young man around me today that are growing into strong ministers of the Gospel I have decided changed my view about that silly trophy. Students come to the O.G.T.C. or come to Christ in the student ministry and I see them growing in Christ. At the end of the year they might not receive the “Best Communicator” award (if we had such a thing) but they would definitely receive the “Most Improved”.
How come we think the rookie should always get that award. Does veteran players not have room to improve? As I am surrounded by a group of young men who are continually growing in their abilities to minister I want to recognize my need for improvement. At the end of this upcoming year I want to be the “Most Improved Player”. Not because it is a competition or I hope they don’t grow – becuase neither are true. Even though this is not my rookie season I still have much need of improvement.
