I was going to be a star! As in NBA star. I “fell in love” with basketball in the 9th grade. I hadn’t touched a ball before that year except in intramurals. And even then I think they conspired against me touching the ball. 🙂  I had played baseball up until that point but after growing 2-3″ between my 8th and 9th grade, I was made for basketball (or so I thought).

Only one problem: I couldn’t walk and dribble a basketball at the same time, let alone run and dribble. The only dribble I knew how to do was down my chin. So much of those early practices were spent with me on the sidelines doing what I couldn’t: dribble and walk. When I somewhat mastered that art, the coach had me to start jogging and dribbling. Let’s just say I was not a point guard.

Fast forward to high school. I did get better. I learned to shoot rather accurately. I even learned to dribble and rebound. I could dunk (with a running start) even though we were not allowed to during that season of my playing days. There was only one problem: I sat the bench. I played some on the JV team and dressed Varsity my junior year; I went to all the summer practices and played a lot, but when the “big boys” showed up it was “Grandi-take-your-seat-on-the-bench” time. Even as a senior in my last high school game I sat the bench. Coach apologized afterwards but it was lame.

In college it was different. I was a 3-year starter. (I didn’t play my senior year. I was tired of basketball and had lost the fire to play plus I had also gotten married and decided I ought to study).  But what a difference! Sitting on the bench vs. playing the game. Sitting on the sidelines vs. being in the action!

Sort of like life. Every morning I (and you) receive an invitation to wake up and actually live a life of engagement, to wake up and “smell the coffee” (even though there is not a ground of it our house). We are invited to engage fully in a life filled with wonder and surprise, to fully participate in this amazing life for one more day.

Jesus once said, “I have come to give you life and to give it more abundantly.” (John 10:10) That doesn’t sound much like sitting on the sidelines to me. So get off the bench. Get in the game, fully engage, and play your heart out.