Are you sitting in the bleachers or in the arena?
This image intrigues me. Fellow blogger and friend Lisa wrote a few weeks ago about her recurring dream where she sits in the bleachers watching a game. You can and I hope you do go read her entire post here:
Lisa writes, “When I’m a spectator in the bleachers, I have no control over how the game is played. I can’t advise the players. I can’t referee the calls. I can only sit and watch… But not every game is ours to play.”
Her words really moved me and the image of sitting in the bleachers as the world, our culture spins out of control resonated deeply with me. That image prompted my imagination and kept recurring into my prayers. It clung to my thoughts. What are our roles in this age of so much upheaval? And are we called just to sit in the bleachers? Maybe we can also be the refs? The photographers on the sidelines? A cheerleader? Can I even leave the game if I don’t like the score? See how her image got my imagination stirred. I took this image into my prayers and journaling multiple times. What, Lord, are you asking of me?
What is ours to do? What am I being invited to do? What is mine to do?
We are not called to fix every problem, I know that. But I do want to be faithful and to serve as God calls me. I always liked Fredrick Buechner quote: “The place God calls you to is the place where your deep gladness and the world’s deep hunger meet.”
The question “what is mine to do?” is a good question to continue to hold onto. To tuck into our hearts and occasionally draw out and play with depending on the season and circumstance. The answer will not always be the same nor will it stay the same. Maybe I am not in the bleachers at all but sitting on the bench, a third string player whose time has finally arrived? Maybe all this time God has been preparing me for just a moment like this to enter the arena and play my best for God.
I find images help me sort out confusion and figure out this crazy journey through life. They bring me closer to God by providing a tangible way to connect with God. This type of visual language clarifies my way forward and gives me courage so when the time is right I take the next step with God.
What about you? Does the image of bleachers stir anything up in your soul? Any other image right now impacted you spiritually?
‘What am I being invited to do? What is mine to do?’
These questions keep coming our way these days and it’s good that they are. There is so much that begs for our attention. May He help us to see which invitations are for us. May He give us the strength and courage to say, ‘Yes, Lord.’
And may we give ourselves permission to sit quietly without pressure to perform.
I read the others day to add to these questions:
What are the implications of:
Doing what is ours to do
Doing what is not ours to do
Not doing what is ours to do
Not doing what is not ours to do
a variation of those questions to ponder….
Thank you Jean and Lisa for this powerful image. Those in the bleachers do cheer on their team with shouts, applause, and big smiles when the game goes well; compassionate commiseration when it doesn’t. We can do the same for those on God’s team, encouraging and praying for them. And aren’t we energized by the enthusiasm of the fans around us in the bleachers? That’s another lesson I see from this image. Our encouragement, prayer, etc. for others inspires more people to do the same. May our team spirit never diminish!
I like the idea of the energy we gain from others around us. That implies something very positive about the Body of Christ, doesn’t it? Good comment, Nancy!!
I love how you took this concept even deeper, Jean. It’s something I keep thinking about too. While we may be in the bleachers for one sporting event, we may be on the field for another, or like you mentioned–maybe we’re the ref or cheerleader or warming the bench, etc.
I haven’t had another bleacher dream since I wrote about it…I wonder if it worked its way out of my system now? 🙂 Thanks for your expansion here!
this image really impacted me. I do love images and how they can take you on wild adventures and insights!!