One of my grad students came to class distressed. When I gave her the opportunity to vent she told a sad tale. It seems her school had fifteenopenings for the girls’ varsity basketball team. Sixteen girls tried out. The school cut one girl. She was shattered. My grad student, the girl’s teacher, could not understand why the coach couldn’t have just added one more girl to the team considering there are always ten people on the bench. Why not eleven? It was a good question. My guess would be the coach would answer, “This is the way it is. We have always had fifteen players.” It reminds us that it often takes very little effort to do the kind, thoughtful thing. While it is important to have routines and follow procedures, it is also more important to alter those procedures when the cost is minimal and the reward great. What could be more important than the feelings, the self-esteem and the dream of a young person?
Jesus said, “Come unto me all you that are heavy laden and I will give you rest.” Jesus is so inclusive. He never excludes anyone who wants in. One of my favorite authors writing about the storm on the sea said, “The disciples cried out, ’Lord save us: we perish.’ Never did a soul utter that cry unheeded.” I just thrill when I read Revelation 7:9. It is a scene of the redeemed in heaven and John said, “After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb.”
With our Jesus there is always room for one more.
Written by Roger Bothwell on July 14, 2009
Spring of Life Ministry, PO Box 124, St. Helena, CA 94574
rogerbothwell.org